UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — COP31 should focus on Closing Gaps, Fulfilling Commitments and Accelerating Implementation of Paris Agreement, stresses India

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

  1. In view of their special vulnerability, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are exempt from communicating nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement.
  2. SIDS were recognised as a special case for both environment and development at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
  • 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. With reference to the architecture of the Paris Agreement, consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Each Party is expected to submit an updated nationally determined contribution every five years.
  2. The Global Stocktake assesses each Party's individual compliance and imposes penalties on Parties that fall short.
  3. The Agreement establishes a framework for transparent monitoring and reporting of countries' climate goals.
  4. The Global Stocktake is undertaken by an independent expert panel constituted outside the meeting of the Parties to the Agreement.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4 only
  • C. 1, 3 and 4 only
  • D. 1 and 2 only

Q3. At the Pre-COP31 meeting, India held that the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement, including 1.5 °C, are already settled. In the Agreement's long-term temperature goal, how are the figures of 2 °C and 1.5 °C related?

  • A. The original 2 °C goal was replaced by a 1.5 °C goal through the first Global Stocktake
  • B. Warming is to be held well below 2 °C, while efforts are pursued to limit it to 1.5 °C
  • C. Warming is to be held at 1.5 °C until 2050, after which a 2 °C ceiling is to apply instead
  • D. Developed Parties are to hold warming to 1.5 °C, while developing Parties work to a 2 °C ceiling

Q4. Consider the following provisions: Under Article 9 of the Paris Agreement, developed country Parties shall provide financial resources to assist developing country Parties with mitigation and adaptation, while other Parties are encouraged to provide such support voluntarily. Under the New Collective Quantified Goal, developed countries take the lead towards a collective amount of USD 300 billion a year by 2035, and developing countries are encouraged to contribute on a voluntary basis. Which of the following inferences can be drawn from the above?

  1. A developing country is barred from providing climate finance to other developing countries.
  2. The finance architecture differentiates Parties' obligations according to their status as developed or developing countries.
  3. These provisions fix the amount that each individual developed country must contribute.
  4. Under these provisions, a mandatory duty to provide climate finance arises only for developed country Parties.
  • A. 3 and 4 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 3 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only