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SSC CGL - Detailed Guide 2025

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Important Environmental Organisations

Reference: NCERT Class 9-12, Lucent GK

1. National Bodies

These organizations play a key role in environmental governance, research, conservation, and regulation within India.

MoEFCC — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

  • Nodal ministry for all environmental and forest-related policies.
  • Implements major environmental laws: Environment (Protection) Act, Wildlife Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act.
  • Coordinates with international environmental agreements: UNFCCC, CBD, CITES, etc.
  • Administers institutions like CPCB, NBWL, and NGT.

CPCB — Central Pollution Control Board

  • Statutory body established under the Water Act, 1974.
  • Works under MoEFCC.
  • Functions:
    • Monitors and controls air and water pollution.
    • Issues environmental quality standards.
    • Coordinates with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).

BNHS — Bombay Natural History Society

  • One of India's oldest NGOs (established in 1883).
  • Renowned for research in biodiversity and ornithology (study of birds).
  • Based in Mumbai.
  • Publishes journals and supports conservation policy formulation.

TERI — The Energy and Resources Institute

  • Research institute based in New Delhi.
  • Focuses on climate change, sustainable development, energy efficiency, and green technology.
  • Known for its flagship event "World Sustainable Development Summit."

WWF-India — World Wide Fund for Nature (India Chapter)

  • Works on wildlife conservation, river basin management, sustainable agriculture, and eco-education.
  • Notable campaigns: Save the Tiger, Earth Hour, ecological footprint awareness.

Note: National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Botanical Survey of India (BSI) are also important national institutions.

2. International Bodies

These organizations formulate global environmental policy, carry out research, and help in international cooperation and monitoring.

UNEP — United Nations Environment Programme

  • Headquarters: Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Coordinates global environmental efforts within the UN.
  • Publishes: Emissions Gap Report, Global Environment Outlook (GEO).
  • Leads observance of World Environment Day (5 June).

IPCC — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

  • Joint initiative by UNEP and WMO (World Meteorological Organization).
  • Established in 1988.
  • Assesses scientific research on climate change.
  • Publishes Assessment Reports (AR6 is the latest as of 2023).
  • Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 along with Al Gore.

WWF — World Wide Fund for Nature

  • Founded in 1961; HQ: Gland, Switzerland.
  • Works on biodiversity conservation and reducing the human impact on the environment.
  • Symbol: Giant Panda.
  • Maintains the Living Planet Report.

Greenpeace

  • Independent global campaigning NGO.
  • Focus areas: Climate change, anti-deforestation, anti-nuclear energy, overfishing, plastic pollution.
  • Known for direct-action environmental protests.
  • Origin: Canada (1971).

IUCN — International Union for Conservation of Nature

  • HQ: Gland, Switzerland.
  • Maintains the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  • Provides data and support for biodiversity conservation.
  • Promotes nature-based solutions and protected area management.

Note: India is a member of all major global environmental agreements (CBD, UNFCCC, CITES, Ramsar, etc.) and collaborates with these bodies.

Quick Revision Table

Organisation Type Known For HQ (If applicable)
MoEFCC National Apex environmental ministry New Delhi
CPCB National Pollution control & monitoring New Delhi
BNHS National Biodiversity & bird conservation Mumbai
TERI National Energy & environment research New Delhi
WWF-India National NGO Wildlife conservation & education New Delhi
UNEP International Global environmental coordination (UN agency) Nairobi, Kenya
IPCC International Climate change science assessments Geneva (Secretariat)
WWF International Global biodiversity conservation Gland, Switzerland
Greenpeace International Environmental activism and direct action Amsterdam, Netherlands
IUCN International Red List & global conservation status database Gland, Switzerland

High-Yield MCQ Pointers

  • • IPCC = Climate science assessment body, not a law-making entity.
  • • BNHS = Ornithology & biodiversity; not a regulatory body.
  • • CPCB = Statutory body under Air & Water Act, 1974.
  • • WWF = Known for Earth Hour and conservation projects.
  • • UNEP = Global host of World Environment Day.
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