Passage

Passage - 2 It is essential that we mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases and thus avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change that would take place in coming years and decades. Mitigation would require a major shift in the way we produce and consume energy. A shift away from overwhelming dependence on fossil fuels is now long overdue, but unfortunately, technological development has been slow and inadequate largely because government policies have not promoted investments in research and development, myopically as a result of relatively low prices of oil. It is now, therefore, imperative for a country like India treating the opportunity of harnessing renewable energy on a large scale as a national imperative. This country is extremely well endowed with solar, wind and biomass sources of energy. Where we have lagged, unfortunately, is in our ability to develop and to create technological solutions for harnessing these resources. One particular trajectory for carrying out stringent mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions assessed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) clearly shows the need for ensuring that global emissions of greenhouse gases peak no later than 2015 and reduce rapidly thereafter. The cost associated with such a trajectory is truly modest and would amount, in the estimation of IPCC, to not more than 3 percent of the global GDP in 2030. In other words, the level of prosperity that the world would have reached without mitigation would at worst be postponed by a few months or a year at the most. This is clearly not a very high price to pay for protecting hundreds of millions of people from the worst risks associated with climate change. Any such effort, however, would require lifestyles to change appropriately also. Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions is not a mere technological fix, and clearly requires changes in lifestyles and transformation of a country's economic structure, whereby effective reduction in emissions is brought about, such as through the consumption of much lower quantities of animal protein. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has determined that the emissions from the livestock sector amount to 18 percent of the total. The reduction of emissions from this source is entirely in the hands of human beings, who have never questioned the impacts that their dietary habits of consuming more and more animal protein are bringing about. Mitigation overall has huge co-benefits, such as lower air pollution and health benefits, higher energy security and greater employment.

What is the essential message of the passage ?

(a) We continue to depend on fossil fuels heavily
(b) Mitigation of the greenhouse gases is imperative ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) We must invest in research and development
(d) People must change their lifestyle

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage begins by stating that it is essential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

• It argues that mitigation requires a major shift away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy, especially for India.

• It cites an IPCC trajectory requiring global greenhouse gas emissions to peak no later than 2015 and reduce rapidly thereafter.

• It notes the cost of this trajectory as not more than 3 percent of global GDP in 2030, making it a modest price to pay.

• It adds that mitigation also requires lifestyle changes, such as lower animal protein consumption, because FAO determined livestock sector emissions amount to 18 percent of the total.

• Therefore, the essential message is that mitigation of greenhouse gases is imperative.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) We continue to depend on fossil fuels heavily: The passage mentions heavy dependence on fossil fuels as a problem, not as the essential message.
(c) We must invest in research and development: Investing in research and development is presented as a needed step, not the central message.
(d) People must change their lifestyle: Changing lifestyle is presented as a component of mitigation, not the passage's essential message.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.