Q97 (IAS/2016) Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Global Initiatives › Paris Agreement framework Official Key

With reference to the Agreement at the UNFCCC Meeting in Paris in 2015, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The Agreement was signed by all the member countries of the UN and it will go into effect in 2017. 2. The Agreement aims to limit the greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 ℃ or even 1.5 ℃ above pre-industrial levels. 3. Developed countries acknowledged their historical responsibility in global warming and committed to donate $ 1000 billion a year from 2020 to help developing countries to cope with climate change. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

Result

Your answer: — · Correct: B

Explanation

The correct answer is option B (Statement 2 only).

**Statement 1 is incorrect** because as of February 2023, 195 members of the UNFCCC are parties to the agreement[1], not all UN member countries. Additionally, the agreement entered into force on 4 November[3] 2016[2], not 2017.

**Statement 2 is correct** as the Paris Agreement aims to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels[4]. World leaders have stressed the need to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of this century[5].

**Statement 3 is incorrect** on multiple grounds. While the UNFCCC acknowledges common but differentiated responsibilities and that the largest share of historical emissions originated in developed countries[6], developed countries committed to mobilize $100 billion a year in climate finance by 2020[7], not $1000 billion as stated in the question.

Sources

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Agreement
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Agreement
[3] https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2092311
[4] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Objectives of the Paris Agreement > p. 331
[5] https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement
[6] Contemporary World Politics, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Environment and Natural Resources > Common but Differentiated Responsibilities > p. 87
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Agreement

How others answered

Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.

Community Performance

Out of everyone who attempted this question.

50%

got it right

Web / Current Affairs

Online pages / news items supporting the statement

Web source

Presence: 4/5

"As of February 2023, 195 members of the [United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change] (UNFCCC) are parties to the agreement. Of the three UNFCCC member states which have not ratified the agreement,"

Why this source?

Gives a concrete count of parties (195) to the Agreement, implying the membership is not universal across all UN members.
Notes there are UNFCCC member states that have not ratified the agreement, indicating it was not adopted by every state.

Web source

Presence: 4/5

"The Paris Agreement is a landmark international accord that was adopted by nearly every nation in 2015 to address climate change and its negative impacts."

Why this source?

Describes the Agreement as adopted by "nearly every nation," explicitly indicating it was not adopted by all countries.
Frames adoption as widespread but not universal, directly addressing the claim of complete UN membership participation.

Indirect textbook clues (4)

How books hint at the answer

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 4.1c..1, Nationally determined contributions > p. 331

Strength: 5/5

“The Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 November 2016. The first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA I) took place in Marrakech, Morocco from November 5-8, 2016. By the close of the Marrakech conference, it had been ratified by three countries representing more than three-fourths of global emissions' The agreement defines parties' basic obligations and establishes new procedures and mechanisms. But for these to be fully operational, their details must be further elaborated. This requires the adoption by parties of an extensive set of decisions known loosely as the "Paris rulebook."”

Why relevant

States the Paris Agreement entered into force on 4 Nov 2016 and had been ratified by countries representing more than three‑fourths of global emissions, implying ratification depended on emission‑share thresholds rather than simply 'all countries'.

How to extend

A student could compare required ratification conditions (e.g., emission share thresholds) with a list of UN members to see if all members were needed for entry into force and thus judge unanimity claims.

Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > Major outcomes > p. 335

Strength: 4/5

“• The Paris Agreement is clear on double counting of carbon credits that a country that sells emissions cuts via offsetting credits to another country can not count those emissions cuts towards its own climate targets. The agreement is yet to be reached as Australia, Brazil and few others are not in agreement.”

Why relevant

Notes disagreement (Australia, Brazil and few others) on a specific Paris rule (double counting), showing some parties did not agree on all provisions.

How to extend

One could check whether named holdouts were UN members and whether such disagreements imply non‑signature or later reservations, helping assess if every UN member signed immediately.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > cancun SummIt. > p. 8

Strength: 4/5

“Te 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held at Cancun (Mexico) in December 2010. Te conference is ofcially referred to as the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In this conference, the Mexican Government committed to ensure that the participants mobilisation and energy consumption during the conference result in the smallest environmental impact. A large amount of energy used during the conference came from renewable resources. A residual waste management programme was also discussed during the conference. Te main points of the Cancun Agreement was signed by 193 nations.”

Why relevant

Gives an example (Cancún Agreement) that was 'signed by 193 nations' — providing a concrete benchmark (193) often associated with near‑universal UN member participation.

How to extend

Using the known count of UN member states (commonly 193), a student can compare reported Paris signatories/ratifications against that benchmark to test the 'all UN members' claim.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 21: Sustainable Development and Climate Change > KIGALI AMENDMENT > p. 602

Strength: 3/5

“• The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol is an international, legally binding agreement entered into force in 2019 to cut the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). • Initially, the amendment was ratified by 65 countries. Liberia becoming the 100<sup>th</sup> nation to ratify the Amendment in July 2020 Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) are the climate pledges and intended reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of countries under the UNFCCC. All countries that signed the UNFCCC were asked to declare their INDCs at the UN's 2013 climate negotiations in Warsaw (CoP 19). The INDC will become the first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) when a country ratifies the Paris agreement.”

Why relevant

Explains that all countries that signed the UNFCCC were asked to submit INDCs, distinguishing 'those who signed UNFCCC' from 'all UN members' and highlighting different lists of participants.

How to extend

A student could list UNFCCC signatories versus total UN membership (using external lists) to determine whether Paris signatories would necessarily include all UN members.

Which of the following statements about the Paris Agreement on Climate Change is NOT correct ?

With reference to the 'Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture (GACSA)', which of the following statements is/are correct ? 1. GACSA is an outcome of the Climate Summit held in Paris in 2015. 2. Membership of GACSA does not create any binding obligations. 3. India was instrumental in the creation of GACSA. Select the correct answer using the code given below :

With reference to the "G20 Common Framework", consider the following statements : 1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club. 2. It is an initiative to support Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Question map

Explanation

PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

Which of the following statements about the Paris Agreement on Climate Change is NOT correct ?

With reference to the "G20 Common Framework", consider the following statements : 1. It is an initiative endorsed by the G20 together with the Paris Club. 2. It is an initiative to support Low Income Countries with unsustainable debt. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?