UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India to push for predictable climate finance, equitable transition at key UN summit

Q1. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Under the Paris Agreement, climate finance that India provides to other developing countries is voluntary support rather than the discharge of a treaty obligation to provide finance.
  2. The Paris Agreement places the obligation to provide financial resources on developed country Parties, while other Parties are encouraged to provide or continue to provide such support voluntarily.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q2. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Under the Paris Agreement, the mitigation contribution of each Party is set by that Party itself rather than assigned to it through multilateral negotiation.
  2. Under the Paris Agreement, the Global Stocktake assesses the collective progress of Parties towards the Agreement's long-term goals every five years, the first having been held in 2023.
  • A. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
  • B. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
  • C. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
  • D. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Q3. Consider the following features of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance adopted at COP29 (Baku, 2024): I. It sets a goal of at least USD 300 billion a year by 2035 for developing countries, with developed countries taking the lead. II. This amount may come from a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources. III. Separately, it calls on all actors to work together to scale up finance to developing countries to USD 1.3 trillion a year by 2035. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. Flows counted towards the USD 300 billion goal need not consist entirely of public grants.
  2. The USD 1.3 trillion figure is an amount that developed countries alone are obliged to provide.
  3. The NCQG ensures that climate finance reaching developing countries will not add to their debt burden.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. With reference to adaptation under the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Paris Agreement establishes a global goal on adaptation of enhancing adaptive capacity, strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
  2. Article 9 of the Paris Agreement confines the obligation of developed country Parties to provide finance to mitigation, leaving adaptation to voluntary support.
  3. A framework adopted in 2023 sets targets towards the global goal on adaptation, and a two-year work programme was set up to develop indicators for measuring progress towards those targets.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 1 only

Q5. With reference to the principle of 'Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities' (CBDR-RC) in the climate regime, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Under the UNFCCC, reporting requirements differ between Annex I and non-Annex I Parties in accordance with this principle.
  2. The Paris Agreement states that it will be implemented to reflect equity and this principle, in the light of different national circumstances.
  3. Under the Paris Agreement, the principle is applied by assigning each Party an emission reduction target calculated from its historical emissions.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 3
  • C. 1 and 2 only
  • D. 2 and 3 only

Q6. With reference to how mitigation effort is distributed under the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Developing country Parties are required to adopt economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets in their next NDC.
  2. Developed country Parties should continue taking the lead by undertaking economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets.
  3. Each Party's successive NDC is expected to represent a progression beyond its then-current NDC and reflect its highest possible ambition.
  4. Each Party is required to prepare, communicate and maintain successive NDCs that it intends to achieve.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 2, 3 and 4 only