With reference to the ‘New York, Declaration on Forests’, which of the following statements are correct?

1. It was first endorsed at the United Nations Climate Summit in 2014.
2. It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests.
3. It is a legally binding international declaration.
4. It is endorsed by governments, big companies and indigenous communities.
5. India was one of the signatories at its inception.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2021 Prelims]

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only

(b) 1, 3 and 5 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 5 only

Answer: (a)        

Explanation:

• The New York Declaration on Forests was spurred by the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September 2014.
• It is a political declaration that aims to halve the loss of natural forests by 2020 and strive to end it by 2030, bringing together governments, companies, and civil society actors, including indigenous peoples organizations.
• The Declaration calls for restoring an area of forests and croplands larger than India and achieving these goals would reduce carbon pollution by 4.5 to 8.8 billion tons every year, equivalent to the current emissions of the United States.
• The New York Declaration on Forests is a non-legally binding political declaration, and it is currently endorsed by over 200 entities, including more than 50 governments, more than 50 of the world’s biggest companies, and more than 50 influential civil society and indigenous organizations.
• India is not a signatory of the declaration.