With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017. 2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 °C or even 1·5 °C above pre-industrial levels. 3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (b)
• Statement 2 is correct: the Paris Agreement aims to hold the rise in global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C.
• Statement 1 is wrong: it was adopted by 195 UNFCCC parties (not signed by all UN members) and entered into force on 4 November 2016, not 2017.
• Statement 3 is wrong: developed countries reaffirmed a goal of mobilising US$ 100 billion a year by 2020, not $1,000 billion, and did not formally accept 'historical responsibility'.
• Hence 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong on entry into force and the finance figure.
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: the figure is $100 billion.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statements 1 and 3 are wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.