UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Emissions blame unfair to developing nations’

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities as it appears in different climate instruments: 1. The principle was formulated in 1992 as Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and is stressed along with equity in the UNFCCC. 2. Under the UNFCCC, Annex I Parties took on the additional aim of returning their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000, while Non-Annex I Parties made no emission limitation commitments when the Convention was negotiated. 3. The Paris Agreement abandoned differentiation between groups of Parties, retaining the principle only for those States that remained Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The principle was formulated in 1992 as Principle 7 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and is stressed along with equity in the UNFCCC.
  2. Under the UNFCCC, Annex I Parties took on the additional aim of returning their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000, while Non-Annex I Parties made no emission limitation commitments when the Convention was negotiated.
  3. The Paris Agreement abandoned differentiation between groups of Parties, retaining the principle only for those States that remained Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q2. The principles of equity and of common but differentiated responsibilities, invoked by developing countries to argue historical responsibility, are enshrined in which one of the following provisions?

  • A. Article 2 of the UNFCCC, which lays down the ultimate objective of stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere
  • B. Article 3 of the UNFCCC, which sets out the principles guiding Parties in their actions to achieve the Convention's objective
  • C. Article 4 of the Kyoto Protocol, which allows Parties to fulfil their quantified commitments jointly as a single bloc
  • D. Article 14 of the Paris Agreement, which provides for a periodic global stocktake of collective progress

Q3. Consider the following statements comparing India's earlier Nationally Determined Contribution with the Nationally Determined Contribution approved by the Union Cabinet for the period 2031-2035: 1. The updated Contribution replaces India's emission-intensity target with an absolute, economy-wide cap on total emissions, and all its targets are legally binding under the Paris Agreement. 2. The share of non-fossil fuel sources in cumulative installed electric power capacity is raised from 50 per cent by 2030 to 60 per cent by 2035. 3. The reduction in emission intensity of GDP, measured from the 2005 baseline, is enhanced to 47 per cent by 2035. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The updated Contribution replaces India's emission-intensity target with an absolute, economy-wide cap on total emissions, and all its targets are legally binding under the Paris Agreement.
  2. The share of non-fossil fuel sources in cumulative installed electric power capacity is raised from 50 per cent by 2030 to 60 per cent by 2035.
  3. The reduction in emission intensity of GDP, measured from the 2005 baseline, is enhanced to 47 per cent by 2035.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. As reported by the Government of India to the UNFCCC, roughly how much additional carbon sink, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, had India created through forest and tree cover between 2005 and 2021?

  • A. 1.97 billion tonnes, which is short of one-half of the 2030 goal
  • B. 2.29 billion tonnes, which the Government describes as being on track for the 2030 goal
  • C. 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes, which completes the goal set for the year 2030
  • D. 3.5 to 4.0 billion tonnes, which matches the enhanced goal set for the year 2035

Q5. Consider the following statements comparing the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement: 1. The Kyoto Protocol fixed an average emission reduction of about 5 per cent against 1990 levels for its first commitment period of 2008-2012, whereas the Paris Agreement relies on nationally determined contributions. 2. Under the Paris Agreement, as under the Kyoto Protocol, quantified mitigation commitments are undertaken only by Annex I Parties. 3. The Paris Agreement entered into force within a year of its adoption, whereas the Kyoto Protocol entered into force only in 2005, more than seven years after its adoption. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Kyoto Protocol fixed an average emission reduction of about 5 per cent against 1990 levels for its first commitment period of 2008-2012, whereas the Paris Agreement relies on nationally determined contributions.
  2. Under the Paris Agreement, as under the Kyoto Protocol, quantified mitigation commitments are undertaken only by Annex I Parties.
  3. The Paris Agreement entered into force within a year of its adoption, whereas the Kyoto Protocol entered into force only in 2005, more than seven years after its adoption.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Under the Paris Agreement, at what interval and from which starting year is the collective assessment of progress towards the Agreement's long-term goals carried out?

  • A. Every three years, beginning in the year 2020, feeding into revised pledges
  • B. Every five years, beginning in the year 2018, feeding into revised pledges
  • C. Every five years, beginning in the year 2023, feeding into subsequent contributions
  • D. Every ten years, beginning in the year 2025, feeding into subsequent contributions

Q7. The report 'Limiting Overshoot: Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return', released in September 2026, was brought out by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which prepares periodic assessment reports and their summaries for policymakers
  • B. The World Meteorological Organization, which brings out the annual State of the Global Climate report
  • C. The United Nations Environment Programme, which also brings out the annual Emissions Gap Report
  • D. The secretariat of the UNFCCC, which brings out the synthesis report on nationally determined contributions

Q8. In the report's 'rapid mitigation action from 2025' scenario — designed to hold overshoot to about 0.3°C with a two-thirds chance and return below 1.5°C by 2100 — global emissions in 2035 would have to fall by approximately what proportion relative to 2019 levels?

  • A. About 26 per cent
  • B. About 36 per cent
  • C. About 46 per cent
  • D. About 57 per cent

Q9. After the August 2026 flash flood caused by a glacier collapse in its northern districts, Nepal's claim for climate-related compensation was pressed under which one of the following international mechanisms?

  • A. The Fund for responding to Loss and Damage, set up under the UNFCCC process for particularly vulnerable developing countries
  • B. The Green Climate Fund, which serves as an operating entity of the financial mechanism of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement
  • C. The Adaptation Fund, which was established to finance adaptation projects in developing country Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
  • D. The Least Developed Countries Fund, managed by the Global Environment Facility for the special needs of the poorest countries

Q10. Which one of the following most precisely states the mandate of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage?

  • A. To assist particularly vulnerable developing countries in responding to economic as well as non-economic loss and damage from extreme weather events and slow onset events
  • B. To provide concessional finance to all developing countries for mitigation and adaptation projects, with resources balanced between the two themes
  • C. To finance multi-hazard early warning systems and anticipatory action in all developing countries ahead of climate-related disasters
  • D. To support the preparation and updating of national adaptation programmes of action by the least developed countries alone

Q11. Consider the following statements about the institutional architecture of the climate change regime: 1. Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC comprise the industrialized countries that were members of the OECD in 1992 together with countries whose economies were in transition. 2. The amendment that extended the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol up to the year 2020 was agreed at the Conference of the Parties held in 2012. 3. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities was introduced for the first time by the Kyoto Protocol and was subsequently incorporated into the UNFCCC. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC comprise the industrialized countries that were members of the OECD in 1992 together with countries whose economies were in transition.
  2. The amendment that extended the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol up to the year 2020 was agreed at the Conference of the Parties held in 2012.
  3. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities was introduced for the first time by the Kyoto Protocol and was subsequently incorporated into the UNFCCC.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q12. Consider the following statements about the basis of India's position in climate negotiations relative to the developed countries: 1. Since its per capita emissions are below the world average, India is exempted under the Paris Agreement from communicating any nationally determined contribution until those emissions exceed the world average. 2. India's share in global cumulative carbon dioxide emissions for the period 1850-2019 is less than 4 per cent, although it is home to more than 17 per cent of the world's population. 3. India's annual per capita carbon emission is about one-third of the global average, while that of the developed countries has remained several times the global average. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Since its per capita emissions are below the world average, India is exempted under the Paris Agreement from communicating any nationally determined contribution until those emissions exceed the world average.
  2. India's share in global cumulative carbon dioxide emissions for the period 1850-2019 is less than 4 per cent, although it is home to more than 17 per cent of the world's population.
  3. India's annual per capita carbon emission is about one-third of the global average, while that of the developed countries has remained several times the global average.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3