Climate Change & Conventions

Wet-bulb temperature combines heat and humidity. When it exceeds 35°C, the human body can no longer cool itself through sweating, posing a serious threat to survival. ❌ Statement I: Incorrect
* Though flooding, cyclones, and droughts are valid climate threats, they are not directly related to the World Bank's warning about wet-bulb temperatures. ✅ Statement II: Correct
* When wet-bulb temperatures cross 35°C, the body cannot release heat, making it fatal for humans and animals.

✅ 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.

India’s CO₂ emissions come mainly from fuel combustion, especially electricity generation, and per capita emissions are higher than 0.5 tonnes. ❌ Statement I is incorrect:
* India’s per capita CO₂ emissions are around 1.9-2.0 tonnes, higher than 0.5 t CO₂/capita. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* India ranks second in the Asia-Pacific for total CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion, after China. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* Electricity and heat production (mainly coal-based) is the largest source of India’s CO₂ emissions. So, the correct answer is: C

Nature-based solutions involve using natural processes to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, often needing dedicated financial support. ADB launched the Nature Solutions Finance Hub for Asia and the Pacific to fund nature-based solutions for climate and environmental challenges in the region.

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.

Cement manufacturing contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, mainly due to the chemical process involved in producing clinker. ✅ Statement I: Cement industry emissions are estimated to be around 5-8% of global CO₂ emissions, making it a major source of greenhouse gases. ✅Statement II: Silica-bearing clay is indeed mixed with limestone during cement making to provide essential minerals like silicon, aluminum, and iron needed for the final product. ✅Statement III: During clinker production, limestone (calcium carbonate) is heated and converted into lime (calcium oxide), releasing CO₂ in the process. This calcination is the main source of carbon emissions in cement manufacturing. Both Statements II and III are correct, but only Statement III directly explains the source of carbon emissions mentioned in Statement I.

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a technology that removes CO₂ directly from the air for storage or use in various industries. ✅ Statement I is correct:
* DAC captures CO₂ for carbon sequestration, reducing greenhouse gases. ✅ Statement II is correct:
* Captured CO₂ can be used to make plastics and in food processing. ✅ Statement III is correct:
* DAC provides carbon to make synthetic low-carbon aviation fuels by combining with hydrogen. So, the correct answer is: C

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 I is correct: Without the atmosphere to trap heat, the Earth’s surface temperature would drop to well below freezing, making it too cold to support life as we know it.
In statement 1 though it's an extreme statement but from UPSC CSE point of view it's generally considered true. Statement II is correct: The atmosphere absorbs and retains heat (a natural greenhouse effect), which helps maintain the Earth’s average temperature within a habitable range. Statement III is correct: Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor are particularly effective at absorbing and trapping infrared radiation, helping to warm the planet.

Earth’s rotation and axis can shift due to changes in how mass is distributed across the planet, such as melting polar ice. ✅Statement I is correct: * Studies show that Earth’s rotation and axis are shifting slightly due to internal mass redistribution. ✅ Statement II is correct: * But it doesn’t explain the shift — solar flares affect only the upper atmosphere, not Earth’s rotation. ✅ Statement III is correct: * It explains the shift — melting polar ice moves water toward the equator, altering Earth’s mass distribution and spin.