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.
Given below are two statements:
Statement I: The European bloc wants to impose European emission standards on emerging economies.
Statement II: Rich nations are helping developing countries transition to low-carbon pathways by mobilising climate funding.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer: C. Statement I is true but Statement II is false — ConceptIn a passage-based statement question, each statement must be tested only against what the passage explicitly says or necessarily implies. Judge the…
- A.
Both Statement I and Statement II are true
- B.
Both Statement I and Statement II are false
- C.
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- D.
Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept
In a passage-based statement question, each statement must be tested only against what the passage explicitly says or necessarily implies.
Judge the statements independently first; combine their truth values only after both textual checks are complete.
Application
Statement I says that the European bloc wants to impose European emission standards on emerging economies. The passage explicitly says that targeting imports of carbon-intensive goods imposes European emission standards on emerging economies. Statement I is therefore true.
Statement II says that rich nations are helping developing countries by mobilising climate funding. The passage instead says that rich nations have done little to mobilise the targeted $100 billion. Statement II is therefore false.
Contrast
Both statements true conflicts with the passage’s description of the climate-funding shortfall.
Both statements false conflicts with the passage’s explicit statement about imposing European emission standards.
Statement I true and Statement II false matches the two independent textual checks.
Statement I false and Statement II true reverses both textual findings.
Cross-check
Substituting the two independent results gives the pair (true, false). Hence the answer is: Statement I is true but Statement II is false.