Consider the following statements:Statement I: At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference

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UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2025 UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology paper.

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This UPSC Prelims 2025 Environment & Ecology question has a hard difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

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Question

Consider the following statements:Statement I: At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), India refrained from signing the 'Declaration on Climate and Health'.Statement II: The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration; and if signed, it becomes mandatory to decarbonize the health sector.Statement III: If India's health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised.Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: D - Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correctStep-by-step Solution:Statement I (Premise): At COP28 (Dubai, November-December 2023), India did not sign the COP28 'Declaration on Climate and Health'. This is factually accurate. India was among the countries that chose not to sign this declaration.Evaluating Statement II - The COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health is a binding declaration: This is incorrect. COP declarations, including the COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health, are non-binding political commitments. They express intent and solidarity among signatory nations but do not create legally enforceable obligations under international law. Binding commitments under the UNFCCC framework require treaty-level instruments (such as the Paris Agreement or the Kyoto Protocol). Since the declaration is non-binding, the premise that signing it makes health sector decarbonisation 'mandatory' is false. ✗Evaluating Statement III - If India's health sector is decarbonized, the resilience of its health-care system may be compromised: This is also incorrect. Decarbonising the health sector typically involves transitioning to renewable energy for hospital power, reducing emissions from medical supply chains, and promoting sustainable healthcare practices. Far from compromising resilience, decarbonisation generally enhances it by: reducing air pollution-related disease burden; improving energy security through solar/renewables; and building climate-resilient health infrastructure. Decarbonisation does not inherently weaken healthcare systems. ✗Since both Statement II and Statement III are incorrect, neither can explain Statement I.Why other options are incorrect:Option A: Incorrect. Both II and III are false, so neither can explain Statement I.Option B: Incorrect. Same reason - both are incorrect.Option C: Incorrect. Neither Statement II nor III is correct, so this option cannot apply.Key Concept: COP28 (28th Conference of Parties to UNFCCC) was held in Dubai, UAE, in November-December 2023. Key outcomes included the Global Stocktake (first formal assessment of Paris Agreement progress), agreement on transitioning away from fossil fuels, the Health Day agenda with the Declaration on Climate and Health, and expansion of the Loss and Damage Fund. COP declarations are voluntary and non-binding, unlike the Paris Agreement which has binding reporting requirements. The health-climate nexus covers: climate change increasing disease burden (vector-borne diseases, heat stress, malnutrition); health system emissions contributing to climate change; and the need for climate-resilient, low-carbon health systems.

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