Question

India signed and ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol in August 2002. India, China and other developing countries were exempt from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol because their contribution to the emission of greenhouse gases during the industrialisation period (that is believed to be causing today's global warming and climate change) was not significant. However, the critics of the Kyoto Protocol point out that sooner or later, both India and China, along with other developing countries, will be among the leading contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. At the G-8 meeting in June 2005, India pointed out that the per capita emission rates of the developing countries are a tiny fraction of those in the developed world. Following the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, India is of the view that the major responsibility of curbing emission rests with the developed countries, which have accumulated emissions over a long period of time.

India's international negotiating position relies heavily on principles of historical responsibility, as enshrined in UNFCCC. This acknowledges that developed countries are responsible for most historical and current greenhouse gas emissions, and emphasizes that 'economic and social development are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country parties'. So India is wary of recent discussions within UNFCCC about introducing binding commitments on rapidly industrialising countries (such as Brazil, China and India) to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. India feels this contravenes the very spirit of UNFCCC.

The Indian government is already participating in global efforts through a number of programmes. For example, India's National Auto-fuel Policy mandates cleaner fuels for vehicles. The Energy Conservation Act, passed in 2001, outlines initiatives to improve energy efficiency. Similarly, the Electricity Act of 2003 encourages the use of renewable energy. Recent trends in importing natural gas and encouraging the adoption of clean coal technologies show that India has been making real efforts. The government is also keen to launch a National Mission on Biodiesel, using about 11 million hectares of land to produce biodiesel by 2011-2012. India ratified the Paris Climate Agreement on 2 October 2016.

Why were India, China and other developing countries exempted from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol?

• A. They are already participating in global efforts through a number of programmes.
• B. They have signed and ratified the Paris Climate Agreement.
• C. Their contribution to emission of greenhouse gases during the industrialisation period was not significant.
• D. They command significant technological and financial resurces to pursue sustainable development.

Hint:

Look at the first paragraph for the word 'because'.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Read the question stem.
We must pick the stated cause of the exemption. In a passage-based question the best method is to locate the exact sentence and match it with the options.

Step 2: Locate the sentence.
In paragraph one, the words "were exempt from the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol because" are followed by the reason. The reason is that their emissions in the industrialisation period were not significant.

Step 3: Match with the options.
Option 3 repeats this reason almost word for word. The other three options talk about other things, so we test each one against the passage.

Step 4: Why options 1 and 2 fail.
Option 1 describes India's present programmes such as the Auto-fuel Policy. Option 2 refers to the Paris Agreement of 2016. Both are events or actions after the Kyoto exemption, and neither is given as its reason in the text.

Step 5: Why option 4 fails.
The passage has no line saying these countries have strong technology and money. It says the opposite in spirit, that they put economic and social development first. So option 4 has no support.

Step 5b: Double check the logic of the exemption.
Kyoto put duties on countries that had already released large amounts of greenhouse gases. India and China had released very little by then, and their per capita emission is a tiny fraction of the developed world, as the passage says at the G-8 meeting. So fairness, not capacity or later action, is the reason behind the exemption. That is why only option 3 is the true reason. Options that list India's programmes or the Paris Agreement describe what India did later, and they cannot explain a decision taken in 1997. The claim of large technology and finance resources is also false for a developing country.

Final Answer:
Only option 3 is backed by the passage.
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