PARLIAMENT QUESTION: IMPLEMENTATION OF MISSION MAUSAM

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific analysis that tracks government climate action and measures it against the globally agreed Paris Agreement aim of holding warming well below 2C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. A collaboration of two organisations, Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute, the CAT has been providing this independent analysis to policymakers since 2009. CAT quantifies and evaluates climate change mitigation targets, policies, and actions. It also aggregates country action to the global level, determining likely temperature increases during the 21st century using the MAGICC climate model. CAT further develops sectoral analysis to illustrate the required pathways for meeting the global temperature goals.

Statement I is Correct: India's Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) is indeed a crucial tool for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. It outlines the strategic framework necessary for sectoral transitions in energy, transport, industry, and forestry to meet this long-term goal. Statement II is Incorrect: While India's 4th Biennial Update Report (BUR-4) does record an approximately 8% decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 compared to 2019, this decrease is attributed to the economic slowdown and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, not to structural or strategic efforts towards long-term emission reductions. Therefore, it does not empirically support the strategic framework of LT-LEDS. Statement III is Correct: The IPCC emphasizes that climate-resilient development depends on rapid, deep, and immediate emission reductions in the short term. This approach can be seen as contradicting the long-term focus of strategies like LT-LEDS if they do not also incorporate aggressive short-term actions. Therefore, the correct relationship is that Statement III contradicts the approach implicit in Statement I, making option B correct.

* Carbon markets, which include mechanisms like cap-and-trade systems and carbon offsets, are increasingly being used as a tool to incentivize emissions reductions and help in the fight against climate change. So, statement 1 is true. * Carbon markets typically work by transferring resources from emitters (usually in the private sector) to entities that can reduce or remove greenhouse gas emissions, which can be either private entities or the government. So, statement 2 can also be true.

✅ A. The European Union:
The Nature Restoration Law (NRL) is an EU legislative initiative adopted in 2024. It sets binding targets to restore ecosystems, fight climate change, and protect biodiversity across EU member states. ❌ B. The World Bank:
An international financial institution providing loans and grants; it does not enact laws like the NRL. ❌ C. OECD:
An organization promoting economic cooperation and policy coordination; it does not enact binding environmental laws such as the NRL. ❌ D. FAO:
A UN agency focused on hunger and agriculture; it does not enact regional laws like the NRL.

At COP28, India chose not to sign the “Declaration on Climate and Health,” and this decision can be understood by analyzing the nature of the declaration and India’s concerns. ✅ Statement I: Correct. India did not sign the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, unlike over 120 other countries. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect. The declaration is not legally binding; it is a voluntary political commitment. Signing it does not legally mandate countries to decarbonize their health sectors immediately. ✅Statement III: Correct. India’s concern is that rapid decarbonization of its health sector could compromise the resilience and accessibility of healthcare services, given current developmental challenges and resource constraints. Therefore, only Statement III correctly explains Statement I, while Statement II is factually wrong about the binding nature of the declaration.

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement is crucial as it outlines international cooperation through both carbon markets and non-market approaches to help countries meet climate goals. ✅ Statement I is correct:
* Article 6 is widely discussed because it enables cooperation through market and non-market means to fight climate change. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* It defines rules for carbon markets, including carbon trading and credit mechanisms. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* It also promotes non-market tools like technology transfer and capacity building to reach climate targets. So, the correct answer is: A

Statement 1 is correct: Agenda 21 is a comprehensive global action plan adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It provides a framework for achieving sustainable development by integrating environmental protection, social equity, and economic growth at global, national, and local levels. Statement 2 is incorrect: The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2002, reviewed and reaffirmed the commitments made under Agenda 21 but did not introduce it. Instead, the summit focused on assessing progress, strengthening implementation, and launching new initiatives, including the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI).

The term 'Social Cost of Carbon' is a measure of the economic damages, in dollars, that would result from emitting one additional ton of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. It is used to value the climate impacts of rulemakings and helps policymakers understand the economic impacts of decisions that would increase or decrease emissions. Therefore, it is best described as the long-term damage done by a tonne of carbon dioxide emissions in a given year.

Pair 1 is correctly matched. Alma Ata Declaration: The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 612 September 1978. It expressed the need for urgent action by all governments, all health and development workers, and the world community to protect and promote the health of all people. Pair 2 is not correctly matched. Hague Convention: The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or Hague Abduction Convention is a multilateral treaty developed by the Hague Conference on Private International Law that provides an expeditious method to return a child internationally abducted by a parent from one member country to another. Pair 3 is correctly matched. The Talanoa Dialogue is a process designed to help countries implement and enhance their Nationally Determined Contributions by 2020. The Dialogue was mandated by the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change to take stock of the collective global efforts to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. Pair 4 is not correctly matched. The Under2 Coalition is a global community of state and regional governments committed to ambitious climate action in line with the Paris Agreement. The coalition brings together more than 220 governments that represent over 1.3 billion people and 43% of the global economy. Signatories commit to keeping global temperature rises to well below 2C with efforts to reach 1.5C.

Statement 1 is correct: The GCCA was established by the European Union to enhance climate cooperation with developing nations, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Statement 2 is correct: A core objective of the GCCA is to provide technical and financial assistance to developing countries, helping them integrate climate change adaptation and mitigation into their national policies, development strategies, and budgets. Statement 3 is incorrect: The GCCA is coordinated by the European Commission through its established political dialogue and cooperation mechanisms. It is not managed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) or the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Statement 1 is correct as the article explicitly states, 'The Mission Mausam was launched by the Honorable Prime Minister on 14 January 2025'. Statement 2 is correct as the article mentions its goal is 'making country a 'Weather-ready and Climate-smart' nation'. Statement 3 is incorrect; while the mission strengthens infrastructure under 'Urban Meteorology and Mission Mausam schemes' in specific areas like Uttar Pradesh, its overall objective is national, providing seamless weather and climate services to all, not exclusively urban areas.

The article explicitly mentions 'Automated Weather Stations (AWS)', 'Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG)', and 'Doppler Weather Radars' as technologies used. Satellite Imaging Systems are not mentioned in the provided text.

Statement 1 is incorrect. The article states, 'Government of India through MoES institutions and IMD has undertaken continuous monitoring & rigorous review...', indicating that MoES institutions are also involved, and IMD collaborates with other ministries and state governments. Statement 2 is correct, as the article highlights IMD's collaboration with other ministries and state governments 'To ensure localised relevance and last-mile connectivity'. Statement 3 is correct, as the article explicitly lists 'IMD has 8 Regional Meteorological Centres (RMCs) and there are 25 Meteorological Centres (MCs)'.