Question: 117: The World Summit on sustainable development held in 2002 in Johannesburg, South Africa pledged for:
(1) A significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss.
(2) Declaration of more biodiversity hotspots.
(3) Increase in agricultural production
(4) Collection and preservation of seeds of different genetic strains of commercially important plants.
Answer: Option (1)
Explanation:
The World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in 2002 at Johannesburg, South Africa.
One of the major commitments of this summit was to achieve a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss.
This pledge was made in recognition of the rapid loss of species due to human activities such as habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change.
The summit emphasized sustainable development by balancing environmental protection with economic and social development.
Declaration of more biodiversity hotspots was not the main objective of this summit.
Increasing agricultural production and collection of seeds are conservation-related activities but were not specific pledges of this summit.
Hence, the correct answer is a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss.