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UPSC Notes

Climate Vulnerability and Justice

PYQs

8

Articles

1

Momentum

21

Phase IFoundation

Background

Overview

Essential for understanding international climate negotiations (CBDR-RC, Loss & Damage), national adaptation policies, social welfare, and ethical governance. Relevant for GS2 (Social Justice, IR) and GS3 (Environment).

Climate vulnerability refers to the degree to which a system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Climate justice acknowledges that while climate change is a global problem, its impacts are unequally distributed, often disproportionately affecting developing nations and marginalized communities who have contributed least to the problem.

Phase IIStatic core

Facts & tables

Key facts

Unequal Impacts

Developing nations (e.g., Nepal) with negligible emissions face severe consequences.

Marginalized Communities

Historically vulnerable groups (e.g., Malaiyaha Tamils in Sri Lanka) are disproportionately affected.

Socio-economic Factors

Poverty, lack of infrastructure, and historical exploitation exacerbate vulnerability.

Global North-South Divide

Highlights the ethical dimension of climate change, linking historical emissions to current suffering.

Reference table

Static syllabus anchors

TypeReference
Conceptual areaClimate Change
Conceptual areaSocial Justice
Phase IIIExam lens

Prelims angle

Overview

Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis

Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding

Quick revision

  • Climate impacts are unequal, affecting vulnerable groups most.
  • Developing nations suffer despite low emissions.
  • Socio-economic factors increase vulnerability.
  • Core to climate justice and international negotiations.

High-confidence PYQs

2026Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change : I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2025Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements b...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2023Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change. State...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2022Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks ...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2022Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Consider the following statements: 1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks ...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2016Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Allian...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

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...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2016Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Allian...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

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...

Environment & EcologyOpen question
2014Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2 °C above the pre-industrial level. If the global temperature increases bey...

Environment & EcologyOpen question

Topic timeline

Climate ChangeSocial Justice
Prelims 2014· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2 °C above the pre-industrial level. If the global temperature increases bey...

Open question
Prelims 2016· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Allian...

Open question

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...

Open question
Prelims 2016· Statement-based questions, Factual recall

Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Allian...

Open question

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...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks ...

Open question
Prelims 2022· Factual recall, Conceptual understanding

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?

Open question

Consider the following statements: 1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks ...

Open question
Prelims 2023· Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change. State...

Open question
Prelims 2025· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements b...

Open question
Prelims 2026· Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding

Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change : I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is...

Open question

Keeping pace with climate shock events

04 Sep 2026 · Climate change impacts are unequal, disproportionately affecting developing nations and marginalized communities due to their high vulnerability and low adaptive capacity, raising critical issues of climate justice.

Read article

Related topics

Current topic

Climate Vulnerability and Justice

Practice writing on this topic

UPSC has asked 8 linked questions on Climate Vulnerability and Justice in Mains. Write an answer to one — and get it evaluated.

See Mains PYQsEvaluate an answer

UPSC Prelims PYQs on Climate Vulnerability and Justice

Practice official previous year questions asked by UPSC related to this concept.

The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 °C. Which of the following statements b...

2025·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements with reference to India's response to climate change : I. India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is...

2026·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change. State...

2023·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Among the following crops, which one is the most important anthropogenic source of both methane and nitrous oxide?

2022·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. The International Solar Alliance was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015. 2. The Allian...

2016·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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...

2016·Environment & Ecology
Solve

The scientific view is that the increase in global temperature should not exceed 2 °C above the pre-industrial level. If the global temperature increases bey...

2014·Environment & Ecology
Solve

Consider the following statements: 1. "The Climate Group" is an international non-profit organization that drives climate action by building large networks ...

2022·Environment & Ecology
Solve

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