Consider the following statements : Statement-I : The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently. Statement-II : The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?
- (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
- (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Why the answer is (c)
• The European Parliament approved the Net-Zero Industry Act in April 2024; it aims for the EU to manufacture at least 40% of its annual deployment needs in strategic clean technologies (solar, wind, batteries, heat pumps, electrolysers) by 2030 — Statement-I is correct.
• Statement-II is incorrect on both counts: the EU's legal target under the European Climate Law is climate neutrality by 2050 (with a 55% cut by 2030 and a proposed 90% by 2040), and the Act aims at a 40% domestic share, not producing 'all' of its clean technology.
• The Act responds to the US Inflation Reduction Act and Chinese dominance of clean-tech supply chains.
• Hence Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
- Statement-II is wrong: the EU target is 2050 neutrality and a 40% domestic share.
- (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain…
- Statement-II is wrong, so both cannot be correct.
- (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
- Statement-I is correct: the Act was approved by the European Parliament.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.