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. Correct Answer 1, 2 and 4 The correct answer is 1, 2 and 4 Key PointsNew York Declaration on Forests: Spurred by the UN Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September 2014, the New York Declaration on Forests is a political declaration that brings together governments, companies and civil society actors including indigenous peoples organizations with the common aim of halving the loss of natural forests by 2020 and striving to end it by 2030. Hence statements 1 and 2 are correct. It also calls for restoring an area of forests and croplands that is larger than India. Meeting these goals would reduce carbon pollution by between 4.5 and 8.8 billion tons every year – about as much as the current emissions of the United States. The New York Declaration on Forests is a non-legally binding political declaration. Hence statement 3 is incorrect. The Declaration 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. Hence statement 4 is correct. India is not a signatory of the declaration. Hence statement 5 is incorrect.