UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT Paper II · Q43 of 77 Comprehension medium

Passage

Passage - 3 Along with sustainable lifestyles, climate justice is regarded as a significant principle in environmental parlance. Both the principles have bearings on political and economic choices of the nation. So far, in our climate change summits or compacts, both the principles have eluded consensus among nations. Justice, in the judicial sense, is well defined. However, in the context of climate change, it has scientific as well as socio-political connotations. The crucial question in the next few years will be how resources, technologies and regulations are used to support the victims of climate change. Justice in climate is not confined to actions relating to mitigation, but includes the wider notion of support for adaptation to climate change and compensation for loss and damage.

Which one of the following statements best reflects the most logical, rational and crucial message conveyed by the passage ?

  1. (a) Climate justice should be ingrained in detail in the rules of all the new climate compacts/agreements. ✓ UPSC's answer
  2. (b) Environmental resources are unevenly distributed and exploited across the globe.
  3. (c) There is an impending issue of dealing with a huge number of climate change victims/climate refugees.
  4. (d) Climate change in all its connotations is mostly due to developed countries and therefore their share of burden should be more.

Why the answer is (a)

• The passage identifies climate justice as a significant principle that has 'eluded consensus' in past climate change summits and compacts.

• It defines the scope of climate justice to include mitigation, adaptation support, and compensation for loss and damage, not just mitigation.

• The text highlights that the 'crucial question' in the coming years is how resources, technologies, and regulations are used to support victims.

• Since the principle has been missing from previous agreements and is essential for addressing the crucial question of support, the logical implication is that it must be formally integrated into future frameworks.

• Therefore, the most rational message is that climate justice should be ingrained in the rules of all new climate compacts to ensure these supports are legally and structurally mandated.

Why the other options are wrong

(b) Environmental resources are unevenly distributed and exploited across the globe.
The passage does not discuss the uneven distribution or exploitation of environmental resources, but rather the lack of consensus on the principle of climate justice.
(c) There is an impending issue of dealing with a huge number of climate change…
While the passage mentions supporting victims, it does not frame the core message around the impending issue of climate refugees or their specific numbers.
(d) Climate change in all its connotations is mostly due to developed countries and therefore…
The passage does not attribute climate change primarily to developed countries or explicitly state that their share of the burden should be higher, focusing instead on the general principle of justice.

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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