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.
The following exemplify the hypocrisy of the European Union's imposition of carbon tax
A. Rich countries of the global north have achieved a high standard of living through centuries of polluting industries.
B. Rich countries now wish to hamper the development of the emerging economies.
C. Rich countries violate the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities of international climate action.
D. Rich countries are not imposing European emission standards on emerging economies.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer: D. A, B and C only — ConceptIn a passage-based statement-combination question, test each claim independently against what the passage explicitly says or necessarily implies. A…
- A.
A and B only
- B.
A, B and D only
- C.
B, C and D only
- D.
A, B and C only
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept
In a passage-based statement-combination question, test each claim independently against what the passage explicitly says or necessarily implies. A valid combination must include every supported claim and exclude every contradicted claim.
Application
The claim that rich countries attained a high standard of living through centuries of polluting industries is stated directly in the passage.
The claim that rich countries seek to constrain emerging economies’ development follows from the phrase “slam the development door shut.”
The claim that imposing European emission standards violates common but differentiated responsibilities is stated explicitly.
The claim denying that those standards are being imposed is contradicted by the passage, which says that the standards are being imposed on emerging economies.
Cross-check
The passage supports the three claims about historic polluting development, present constraints on emerging economies, and violation of differentiated responsibility. It rejects the denial that European standards are being imposed. Therefore, the accepted combination contains those three supported claims and excludes the denial.