Read the passage and answer the questions:
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. Neither does it seem fair to impose restrictions on India when the country’s rise in per capita carbon emissions by 2030 is likely to still represent less than half the world average of 3.8 tonnes in 2000. Indian emissions are predicted to rise from 0.9 tonnes per capita in 2000 to 1.6 tonnes per capita in 2030.
Which one of the following statements is correct for the ‘principle of historical responsibility’ as enshrined in the UNFCCC?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Developed countries are responsible for most historical and current greenhouse gas emissions.
Option (1) Developed countries are responsible for most historical and current greenhouse gas emissions. — Correct. The principle of historical responsibility, as enshrined in the UNFCCC, acknowledges that developed countries are responsible for most historical and current greenhouse gas emissions, and that economic and social development are the first priorities of the developing countries.
Option (2) Developing countries made significant contribution to greenhouse gas emission during industrialisation period. — Incorrect. Their contribution during the industrialisation period was not significant.
Option (3) Ecological degradation and greenhouse gas emission are not the product of industrial development undertaken by developed countries. — Incorrect. The developing countries hold that much of the ecological degradation in the world is the product of industrial development undertaken by the developed countries.
Option (4) Binding commitments on least developing countries to increase greenhouse gas emissions. — Incorrect. The principle is about who must cut emissions, not about raising them; India is wary even of binding commitments on rapidly industrialising countries to reduce their emissions.
NCERT (2025-26): “India’s Stand on Environmental Issues … 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’.…” |