The 'Common Carbon Metric', supported by UNEP, has been developed for
Answer & explanation
Answer: (a) assessing the carbon footprint of building operations around the world
The Common Carbon Metric (2009) is a UNEP-backed method for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from the operation of buildings, so that the carbon footprint of buildings anywhere can be assessed and compared on the same basis. It has nothing to do with farm carbon trading or national inventories.
- ✓ (a) Its full title is the 'Common carbon metric for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from building operations', published by UNEP in 2009 through its Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative.
- ✗ (c) National emissions are reported through greenhouse gas inventories under the UNFCCC, not through this building-level metric.
- ✗ (d) The metric measures individual buildings' operational emissions, not global fossil-fuel emissions per unit time.
Remember · UNEP's Common Carbon Metric (2009) = a universal way to measure the operational carbon footprint of buildings (energy use and emissions per square metre or per occupant).
Sources
- UNEP Knowledge Repository, Common carbon metric for measuring energy use and reporting greenhouse gas emissions from building operations (2009) ↗ “Supported by the United Nations Environment Programme, this new 'Common Carbon Metric' will allow emissions from buildings around the world to be consistently assessed and compared, and improvements measured.”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·