UPSC CSE Prelims
Question 15
Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change:
- India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
- India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) submitted in December, 2024 recorded around 8% decrease in Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 over 2019.
- Climate-resilient development necessarily depends on quick and short-term achievement of emission reduction targets.
Which of the following relationships among the above statements is/are correct?
- Statement I is empirically supported by statement II.
- Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in statement I.
- Statement I and statement III together establish the premise of long-term sustainability.
Select the answer using the code given below:
View correct answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Correct Option: B
Explanation: India’s LT-LEDS frames the 2070 net-zero pathway, and the emissions decline recorded in its BUR-4 supplies contemporary evidence; climate resilience requires sustained, not merely short-term, action.
Statement-wise Analysis:
Statement 1: Correct - The BUR-4 reported a decline in emissions in 2020 relative to 2019, illustrating near-term mitigation progress consistent with long-term strategy.
Statement 2: Correct - A claim that quick short-term targets are necessarily sufficient conflicts with a long-horizon climate-resilient strategy.
Statement 3: Incorrect - The short-term-only premise contradicts rather than establishes long-term sustainability.
Option-wise Analysis:
A: Incorrect - Omits supported item(s) 2.
B: Correct - This option includes the supported item(s) and excludes the unsupported ones.
C: Incorrect - Includes unsupported item(s) 3 and omits supported item(s) 1.
D: Incorrect - Includes unsupported item(s) 3 and omits supported item(s) 1, 2.