UPSC Editorials Quiz : 13 March 2026

Solution: A

• Statement 1 is correct. The UNFCCC, adopted in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, provides the foundational framework for global climate governance. It established principles such as “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR) and created institutions such as the Conference of Parties (COP).
• Statement 2 is correct. The Kyoto Protocol (1997) operationalised the UNFCCC by imposing legally binding emission reduction targets on developed countries (Annex-I parties), recognising their historical responsibility for emissions. Developing countries did not have binding mitigation obligations under this treaty.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Paris Agreement (2015) did not replace the UNFCCC. Instead, it is an agreement adopted under the UNFCCC framework. It introduced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), allowing each country to voluntarily define its emission reduction targets and climate strategies.
• Thus, the current climate governance system is layered, with the UNFCCC as the umbrella convention and agreements such as Kyoto and Paris functioning under it.

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Solution: A

• Climate mitigation refers to actions that reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions, such as renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency improvements, and afforestation.
• Climate adaptation focuses on adjusting natural or human systems to actual or expected climate impacts, such as drought-resistant crops, flood protection infrastructure, or water conservation strategies.
• Climate resilience refers to the capacity of communities, ecosystems, and infrastructure to withstand and recover from climate-related shocks such as floods, storms, and heatwaves.
• These three concepts are interconnected. Effective climate policy generally integrates mitigation to reduce future warming, adaptation to cope with inevitable impacts, and resilience building to strengthen systems against shocks.
• For developing countries, adaptation and resilience are often emphasised because they face immediate climate risks while continuing to pursue economic development.

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Solution: A

• Statement 1 is incorrect. The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) does not evaluate countries solely on emissions. Instead, it uses multiple indicators to assess climate mitigation performance.
• Statement 2 is correct. One of the categories used in the index is renewable energy, reflecting the importance of clean energy deployment in reducing emissions.
• Statement 3 is correct. The CCPI aims to increase transparency and accountability in international climate politics by comparing countries’ performance and progress toward climate mitigation goals.
• The index typically evaluates countries across four major categories: greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy, energy use, and climate policy. By ranking countries on these parameters, it encourages stronger climate action and allows policymakers, researchers, and civil society to track global progress.

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Solution: A

• The urban heat island effect occurs when urban areas experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural regions.
• Statement-I is correct. Cities often record higher temperatures during heatwaves due to dense construction, reduced vegetation, and waste heat from human activities. This intensifies heat stress for urban populations.
• Statement-II is correct and explains Statement-I. Materials such as concrete, asphalt, and metal surfaces absorb solar radiation during the day and release heat slowly at night, increasing overall urban temperatures. In contrast, vegetation provides cooling through evapotranspiration and shading.
• Thus, urban planning strategies such as green roofs, urban forests, reflective building materials, and improved ventilation corridors are increasingly used to mitigate urban heat island effects.

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Solution: B

• Statement 1 is correct; climate change is identified as a long-term driver making early-onset heatwaves a “new normal.”
• Statement 2 is correct as it describes the mechanism of atmospheric anticyclones. Sinking air in a high-pressure system warms up due to compression (adiabatic heating), which clears the sky of clouds and allows intense solar radiation to reach the ground.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. In 2025/early 2026, there was no significant meeting of westerly and easterly winds, which meant moisture from the seas was NOT brought to North India. This lack of moisture led to dry conditions, facilitating the heatwave rather than humidity-driven heat.