UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT Paper II · Q11 of 77 Comprehension medium

Passage

Directions for the following 3 (three) items : Read the following three passages and answer the items that follow the passages. Your answers to these items should be based on the passages only. Passage – 1 The emissions humans put into the atmosphere now will affect the climate in the middle of the century and onwards. Technological change, meanwhile, could make a future transition away from fossil fuels cheap or it might not, leaving the world with a terrible choice between sharply reducing emissions at huge cost or suffering through the effects of unabated warming. Businesses that do not hedge against the threat of uncertain outcomes fail. The world cannot afford such recklessness on climate change.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crucial message conveyed by the author of the passage ?

  1. (a) Businesses that cause emissions may need to close down or pay for pollution in future.
  2. (b) The only solution is technological development related to the issues of climate change.
  3. (c) Waiting to deal with carbon emissions until technology improves is not a wise strategy. ✓ UPSC's answer
  4. (d) Since future technological change is uncertain, new industries should be based on renewable energy sources.

Why the answer is (c)

• The passage states that current emissions will affect the climate from the middle of the century onwards, creating immediate long-term consequences.

• It highlights that technological change is uncertain; it might make the transition away from fossil fuels cheap, or it might not.

• The author warns that if technology does not help, the world faces a terrible choice between huge costs to reduce emissions or suffering from unabated warming.

• The text explicitly states that businesses failing to hedge against uncertain outcomes fail, and the world cannot afford such recklessness.

• Therefore, the crucial message is that relying on future technological improvements to solve the problem is a risky and unwise strategy, as one must act now to hedge against uncertainty.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Businesses that cause emissions may need to close down or pay for pollution in future.
The passage does not mention specific penalties like closing down or paying for pollution, but rather discusses the strategic risk of not hedging against uncertain outcomes.
(b) The only solution is technological development related to the issues of climate change.
The passage presents technological change as a possibility that 'could' make the transition cheap, not as the 'only' solution, and emphasizes the need to hedge against its uncertainty.
(d) Since future technological change is uncertain, new industries should be based on…
The passage does not prescribe that new industries must be based on renewable energy, but rather argues against the recklessness of waiting for uncertain technological outcomes to dictate climate strategy.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2023, held on 28 May 2023. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

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