Read the passage and answer the questions that follow: Earlier this week,…
2023
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
Earlier this week, European Union (EU) lawmakers laid the groundwork for the rollout of its proposed carbon border adjustment mechanism from 2026. Essentially a carbon border tax, it is shrouded in green principles of pricing carbon, reducing emissions and preventing carbon leakage to combat global warming. But in reality it is nothing but a tax against emerging economies like India exporting to the EU. True, the European bloc has ambitious climate targets of cutting greenhouse gases by 55% over this decade and seeks to withdraw free carbon allowances for its most polluting industries. However, by targeting imports of carbon-intensive goods such as aluminium, steel, cement, fertilisers and electricity it is imposing European emission standards on emerging economies. This is a clear violation of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities of international climate action. The rich countries of the global north bear historic responsibility for global warming. But after having achieved a high standard of living through centuries of polluting industries, they now want to slam the development door shut on the rest of the world. Further exemplifying this hypocrisy is the fact that when the Ukraine war pushed up energy prices last year, EU nations had no qualms falling back on dirty coal. Plus, rich nations have done little to mobilise the targeted $100 billion for climate funding to help developing nations transition to low-carbon pathways. Thus, India is right to object to the EU carbon tax. It should prepare retaliatory measures, including taking the matter to World Trade Organization (WTO) and flagging it as a non-tariff barrier.
When will the European Union’s carbon border tax come into effect?
Answer: D. From 2026 — CONCEPTLiteral-comprehension questions test whether a stated detail can be located and matched exactly. Identify the precise detail requested, find the…
- A.
From 2030
- B.
Immediately
- C.
After a decade
- D.
From 2026
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
CONCEPT
Literal-comprehension questions test whether a stated detail can be located and matched exactly. Identify the precise detail requested, find the sentence that states it, and distinguish that explicit statement from nearby background information.
APPLICATION
The question asks for the commencement time of the European Union carbon border tax.
In the opening sentence, the passage links the proposed mechanism’s rollout with the phrase from 2026.
Match that explicit calendar year to the offered values; no outside inference is needed.
CONTRAST
From 2030: the passage does not attach this year to the mechanism’s rollout.
Immediately: the mechanism is described as proposed and scheduled for a future rollout, not as already operating at the passage’s reference time.
After a decade: the passage gives a calendar year for rollout, not a relative ten-year interval.
From 2026: this reproduces the year explicitly connected to rollout in the opening sentence.
Therefore, the European Union’s carbon border tax will come into effect from 2026.