UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — India and Japan Launch Operational Manual for the Joint Crediting Mechanism

Q1. Suppose a renewable-energy project in India under the India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism reduces emissions by 1,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent, and all the resulting credits are authorised for use towards Japan's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). In this context, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. India must apply a corresponding adjustment so that these 1,000 tonnes are not also counted towards India's own NDC.
  2. The obligation to apply a corresponding adjustment for these credits falls on Japan, as the acquiring country, rather than on India.
  3. The reduction physically takes place in India even though India cannot count it towards its own NDC.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 only

Q2. With reference to the authorisation of Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Authorisation is granted by the entity purchasing the mitigation outcomes once it has paid for them.
  2. A mitigation outcome can be used towards another country's Nationally Determined Contribution only after it has been authorised for that use.
  3. Authorisation may extend to international mitigation purposes other than meeting a Nationally Determined Contribution.
  • A. 2 and 3 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q3. Consider the following statements: Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

  1. Mitigation outcomes generated under the India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism are confined to emission reductions and cannot include removals of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
  2. Credits issued under the Joint Crediting Mechanism are tagged as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes for use towards Nationally Determined Contributions.
  • 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

Q4. With reference to oversight of Japan's Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Japan's reporting on the JCM has been reviewed by technical experts under the UNFCCC process.
  2. The reviewers sought greater transparency on how the JCM registry conforms to guidance adopted by the Parties to the Paris Agreement.
  3. The technical expert review can cancel JCM credits it finds non-compliant and bar the project concerned.
  4. Being a bilateral arrangement does not exempt the JCM from the Paris Agreement's reporting requirements for cooperative approaches.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q5. Consider the following assertion: Credits generated under the India–Japan Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) belong to a different category from carbon credits traded only within India's domestic carbon market. Which of the following statements support/supports the above assertion?

  1. Once authorised, JCM credits are tagged as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes usable towards another country's Nationally Determined Contribution.
  2. The JCM aims to mobilise climate finance for projects in India.
  3. The JCM seeks to deploy advanced low-carbon technologies in India.
  4. JCM units are authorised by a joint body of the Indian and Japanese governments acting under a provision of an international treaty.
  • A. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • B. 1, 2 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q6. Countries P and Q, both Parties to the Paris Agreement, sign a bilateral agreement. A committee made up of their two governments approves methodologies, registers projects located in P, and authorises the resulting units for use towards Q's Nationally Determined Contribution. No international supervisory body registers the projects. This arrangement is best described as:

  • A. a non-market approach under Article 6.8 of the Paris Agreement
  • B. an activity under the Article 6.4 mechanism of the Paris Agreement
  • C. a cooperative approach under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement
  • D. a project activity under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism