Sustainable Development MCQs

1. Which of the following is a core principle of sustainable development? A) Economic growth at any cost B) Reducing environmental impact C) Ignoring social equity D) Increased consumption of resources Answer: B) Reducing environmental impact 2. What does the term “sustainable development” primarily focus on? A) Short-term economic gains B) Meeting current needs without compromising future generations C) Maximizing profit D) Minimizing government intervention Answer: B) Meeting current needs without compromising future generations 3. Which of the following is NOT one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? A) No Poverty B) Zero Hunger C) Affordable and Clean Energy D) Space Exploration Answer: D) Space Exploration 4. The concept of “carrying capacity” refers to: A) The maximum number of people a city can support B) The amount of resources a country can produce C) The maximum population size that an environment can sustain D) The volume of waste a community can handle Answer: C) The maximum population size that an environment can sustain 5. Which of the following is a key element of sustainable agriculture? A) Intensive use of chemical fertilizers B) Monoculture farming C) Crop rotation and organic farming D) Maximizing land use for a single crop Answer: C) Crop rotation and organic farming 6. The Brundtland Report, published in 1987, is also known as: A) Our Common Future B) The Earth Summit Report C) The Kyoto Protocol D) The Paris Agreement Answer: A) Our Common Future 7. Which of the following practices is considered sustainable in urban planning? A) Building high-density housing with green spaces B) Expanding cities into natural habitats C) Relying solely on fossil fuels for energy D) Increasing car dependency Answer: A) Building high-density housing with green spaces 8. What is the main goal of the Paris Agreement? A) To eliminate poverty worldwide B) To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change C) To promote global trade D) To increase deforestation rates Answer: B) To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change 9. Which of the following is an example of renewable energy? A) Coal B) Natural Gas C) Solar Power D) Uranium Answer: C) Solar Power 10. Which SDG aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education? A) Goal 2: Zero Hunger B) Goal 4: Quality Education C) Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation D) Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Answer: B) Goal 4: Quality Education 11. What does “circular economy” emphasize? A) Linear use of resources B) Continuous use and recycling of resources C) Single-use products D) Discarding products after use Answer: B) Continuous use and recycling of resources 12. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of sustainable development? A) Resource conservation B) Long-term environmental health C) Short-term economic gain D) Social equity and inclusion Answer: C) Short-term economic gain 13. Which organization is primarily responsible for monitoring the SDGs? A) World Bank B) International Monetary Fund (IMF) C) United Nations D) World Health Organization (WHO) Answer: C) United Nations 14. What does “biodiversity” refer to? A) The variety of different species in an ecosystem B) The total number of humans on Earth C) The amount of land available for agriculture D) The volume of water in oceans Answer: A) The variety of different species in an ecosystem 15. Which of the following is a common practice in sustainable forestry? A) Clear-cutting large forest areas B) Selective logging and reforestation C) Ignoring forest management D) Expanding logging into protected areas Answer: B) Selective logging and reforestation 16. What is the primary goal of waste management in sustainable development? A) Increasing landfill use B) Reducing waste and encouraging recycling C) Promoting single-use products D) Disposing of waste without consideration Answer: B) Reducing waste and encouraging recycling 17. Which sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions? A) Agriculture B) Manufacturing C) Transportation D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above 18. Which of the following is a benefit of green building practices? A) Increased energy consumption B) Higher construction costs C) Reduced environmental impact and energy savings D) Shorter building lifespan Answer: C) Reduced environmental impact and energy savings 19. What is the primary focus of the SDG on Clean Water and Sanitation? A) Increasing industrial water usage B) Ensuring access to safe and affordable water and sanitation C) Expanding water use in agriculture D) Reducing water quality standards Answer: B) Ensuring access to safe and affordable water and sanitation 20. Which of the following is a key challenge in achieving sustainable development? A) Resource depletion B) Economic inequality C) Climate change D) All of the above Answer: D) All of the above 21. What does “sustainable transportation” refer to? A) Using fossil fuels exclusively B) Promoting public transit and electric vehicles C) Expanding highway systems D) Increasing private car ownership Answer: B) Promoting public transit and electric vehicles 22. Which SDG focuses on reducing inequality within and among countries? A) Goal 1: No Poverty B) Goal 5: Gender Equality C) Goal 10: Reduced Inequality D) Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Answer: C) Goal 10: Reduced Inequality 23. Which of the following is a principle of sustainable consumption? A) Buying more than needed B) Reducing waste and resource use C) Encouraging single-use products D) Ignoring environmental impacts Answer: B) Reducing waste and resource use 24. What is “ecological footprint”? A) The area of land needed for agricultural production B) The total area of land and water needed to support human activities C) The size of a country’s forests D) The amount of ocean space used by marine life Answer: B) The total area of land and water needed to support human activities 25. Which of the following is a strategy for promoting sustainable fisheries? A) Overfishing B) Implementing fishing quotas and protected areas C) Increasing catch limits D) Ignoring species conservation Answer: B) Implementing fishing quotas and protected areas 26. Which SDG addresses the issue of affordable and clean energy? A) Goal 2: Zero Hunger B) Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation C) Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy D) Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure Answer: C) Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy 27. Which of the following is a key component of climate adaptation strategies? A) Ignoring rising sea levels B) Developing resilient infrastructure and disaster response plans C) Increasing greenhouse gas emissions D) Expanding urban sprawl Answer: B) Developing resilient infrastructure and disaster response plans 28. What role do forests play in sustainable development? A) They contribute to deforestation B) They provide biodiversity, climate regulation, and resources C) They increase soil erosion D) They contribute to greenhouse gas emissions Answer: B) They provide biodiversity, climate regulation, and resources 29. Which of the following is a major benefit of renewable energy sources? A) They deplete natural resources B) They cause air pollution C) They reduce greenhouse gas emissions D) They are non-renewable Answer: C) They reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30. Which SDG aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls? A) Goal 2: Zero Hunger B) Goal 5: Gender Equality C) Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth D) Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities Answer: B) Goal 5: Gender Equality 31. Which of the following is a common indicator of environmental sustainability? A) High levels of air pollution B) Increased biodiversity C) High carbon footprint D) Excessive waste production Answer: B) Increased biodiversity 32. Which practice is essential for sustainable water management? A) Over-extraction of groundwater B) Pollution of water bodies C) Efficient use and conservation of water resources D) Ignoring water scarcity issues Answer: C) Efficient use and conservation of water resources 33. Which of the following is a goal of sustainable urban development? A) Expanding urban sprawl B) Promoting compact, walkable communities C) Increasing reliance on cars D) Disregarding public transport needs Answer: B) Promoting compact, walkable communities 34. Which international agreement aims to limit global warming? A) The Geneva Convention B) The Paris Agreement C) The Kyoto Protocol D) The Montreal Protocol Answer: B) The Paris Agreement 35. What is “greenwashing”? A) Genuine environmental practices B) Misleading claims about the environmental benefits of products C) Sustainable marketing strategies D) Effective recycling programs Answer: B) Misleading claims about the environmental benefits of products 36. Which of the following is an effect of climate change? A) Increased biodiversity B) More frequent extreme weather events C) Stable sea levels D) Decreased temperatures globally Answer: B) More frequent extreme weather events 37. What does the term “sustainable agriculture” emphasize? A) High chemical use B) Soil health and resource conservation C) Monoculture practices D) Maximizing output without regard to the environment Answer: B) Soil health and resource conservation 38. Which of the following is a consequence of deforestation? A) Increased biodiversity B) Disruption of water cycles C) Enhanced soil fertility D) Better air quality Answer: B) Disruption of water cycles 39. What is the main purpose of carbon pricing? A) To encourage higher carbon emissions B) To create financial incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions C) To promote fossil fuel use D) To increase energy consumption Answer: B) To create financial incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions 40. Which of the following practices is part of sustainable tourism? A) Exploiting local resources B) Encouraging environmental degradation C) Supporting local economies and conservation efforts D) Ignoring cultural sensitivities Answer: C) Supporting local economies and conservation efforts

Sustainable Development MCQs

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