Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law and Policy

November 2022-2023
Last date for submission: 21st December, 2022
Total Marks: 50

The word limits and marks allocated to each question are mentioned after the question

Course 1: Introduction to Environmental Law

Assignment 1

Question 1:

The Sustainable Development Report, 2022 states that for the second year in a row, the world
is no longer making progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The International Fund for Animal Welfare released the second edition of their report titled
‘thriving together: the critical role of animals in achieving the SDGs’ which “examines the
connections between animal welfare, wildlife conservation and the natural world and their
critical role in achieving the SDGs.”

SDG Report, 2022: https://s3.amazonaws.com/sustainabledevelopment.report/2022/2022-

IFAW Report: https://www.ifaw.org/resources/role-animals-achieving-sdgs

In light of the above-mentioned reports, solve the below crossword puzzle.

(Note: Where the answer involves two or three words, there is no space between the words.
For example: If the answer is Sustainable Development, it would fit in the crossword as
SustainableDevelopment)

(30 marks)
ACROSS

3. “One Health, One Welfare

4. One of the pathways to increase SDG finance: Increasing domestic revenues of ____.

9. One of the investment priorities identified by SDSN. Helps in achieving secondary education
(SDG 4) and poverty reduction (SDG 1).

11. __________ constraints faced mainly by the developing nations is holding back the success
in achieving SDGs.

12. Reduction in ________ would lead to reduction in spread of the diseases referred to in
Down 13 (2 words)
14. Positive benefit that wildlife or ecosystems provide to people (2 words)

16. ________ prey upon sea urchins which would otherwise overgraze on kelp which are in
turn essential for preventing coastal soil erosion, coastal property damage and ocean
acidification (2 words)

19. Economic benefit from _________. This industry is an example of one that is dependent
on the conservation and welfare of wildlife (2 words).

21. Tropical ________ store 40% of the world’s carbon (Plural)

23. Ocean acidification and _________ impact the health of the water ecosystems.

25. With reference to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), the most direct link between animal and food
security is their role in __________.

26. Zero-carbon ______. One of the investment priorities identified by SDSN. Helps in
achieving SDG 7, SDG 12, SDG 13.

28. One of the pathways to increase SDG finance: to restructure _______.

29. Some species of hardwood trees are so specialized that they cannot reproduce unless their
seeds pass through the stomach of an _________.

DOWN

1. The constraints referred to in 11 Across have been aggravated by the COVID 19 Pandemic
and the war in __________.

2. This mammal provides economic benefits through tourist attraction as well as improves fish
yield for fishermen while supporting the lives other species in the oceans.

5. Native to Australia, this animal is one of the most vulnerable to climate change, as identified
by IUCN.

6. __________ inequality needs to be addressed to ensure proper sustainable wildlife

7. One of the investment priorities identified by SDSN. Helps in achieving Universal Health
Coverage (SDG 3).

8. Including animals in ________ planning. A recommendation in the IFAW Report.

10. Sustainable urban _________. One of the investment priorities identified by SDSN. Helps
in achieving SDG 11.
13. Expansion of farming operations by destroying wild life habitats leads to a closer contact
between wild life and, humans and domesticated animals. This leads to spread in __________
diseases.

14. As per the dashboard, which SDG is India performing the worst in (Number in words).

15. One of the investment priorities identified by SDSN. Helps in achieving SDG 2, SDG 13,
SDG 15 (2 words).

17. Viewing of Yellowstone _________ alone generates USD$70 million per year.

18. In reference to SDG 13 (Climate Action), Climate Change is expected to continue to worsen
unless __________ is not protected.

20. In reference to SDG 15 (Life on Land), decline in wildlife population leads to reduction in
the __________ of ecosystems.

22. ________ farming undermines food security by contributing to fundamental changes in the
climate that in turn disrupt food availability.

24. The carbon footprint from animal farming may be reduced by adopting more ________ and
sustainable practices.

27. One of the pathways to increase SDG finance: to increase domestic borrowing from
_______ (Abbreviation)

Question 2:

The questions below pertain to the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (“Bill”)
which was recently passed in the Lok Sabha on 8th August, 2022.

I. For each statement below, does it correspond with an objective of the Bill? Answer
with a Yes/No. (5 marks)
i. Increased penetration of renewable energy in the markets through increased
demand.
ii. Developing a carbon market in India.
iii. To implement the Clean Development Mechanism structure.
iv. To provide a mechanism for carbon offsetting.
v. Involvement of private sector in climate action through additional incentives of
carbon credits.
II. Answer whether each of the statements below is a recommended amendment under the
Bill. True or False. (8 marks)
i. Issuance of a Carbon Credit Certificate by the State Government.
ii. A carbon trading scheme to be notified by the Central Government.
iii. Minimum share of generation from non-fossil fuels by designated generation
companies.
iv. Adding the concept of ‘green buildings’ into the principal Act.
v. Only the designated consumers may purchase energy saving certificate or
carbon credit certificate
vi. Expanding the scope of the Act beyond merely appliances.
vii. State governments may levy fees for services provided by designated agency.
viii. Establishment of a fund by the Central Government.
I. With regards to carbon credits, answer the following questions:
a. Critically analyse the concept of carbon credits. In your opinion is a carbon
credit mechanism beneficial for the environment? (4 marks, 150-200 words)
b. What decision was taken regarding carbon credits at CoP 27 held in Egypt in
November, 2022? (3 marks, 100-150 words)

(Total 20 marks)