UPSC Prelims 2025 Q34: Environment & Ecology – International Environmental Treaties & Summits

UPSC Prelims 2025, General Studies Paper I · Environment & Ecology

Consider the following statements : Statement I : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change is frequently discussed in global discussions on sustainable development and climate change. Statement II : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change sets out the principles of carbon markets. Statement III : Article 6 of the Paris Agreement on climate change intends to promote inter - country non - market strategies to reach their climate targets. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Answer: (a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

Explanation

Paris Agreement Article 6 - Sub-sections:

Article 6 Sub-section	Focus	Market Type
6.2	Bilateral ITMOs (Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes)	MARKET - country-to-country carbon credit trading
6.4	UN-supervised global carbon market (replaces CDM under Kyoto)	MARKET - multilateral mechanism
6.8	Collaborative non-market approaches	NON-MARKET - direct cooperation without carbon credits

Statement I: TRUE. Article 6 is central to every global climate finance and sustainability discussion.

Statement II: TRUE. Articles 6.2 and 6.4 set the principles for carbon markets — both bilateral and multilateral.

Statement III: TRUE. Article 6.8 explicitly covers non-market approaches — countries can cooperate without trading credits.

Both II and III explain Statement I because Article 6 governs the FULL spectrum of cooperative climate action — market AND non-market.

Answer: (a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) CORRECT. Both Statement II (carbon markets via 6.2 and 6.4) and Statement III (non-market cooperation via 6.8) are accurate, and both explain why Article 6 is so frequently discussed.
(b) Incorrect. Both statements are correct AND both explain Statement I — not just one.
(c) Incorrect. Both statements are factually correct — Article 6 covers carbon markets (6.2, 6.4) AND non-market approaches (6.8).
(d) Incorrect. Both statements are clearly supported by the text of the Paris Agreement.

Key point

Article 6 = Carbon markets (6.2 bilateral + 6.4 multilateral) + Non-market cooperation (6.8). Governs ALL cooperative climate action between countries.

Remember

Article 6 = BOTH carbon markets (6.2, 6.4) AND non-market cooperation (6.8). Not just carbon trading.

Common mistakes

Thinking Article 6 covers only carbon markets and forgetting non-market approaches (6.8) — UPSC specifically tests all three sub-articles.
Confusing Article 6's carbon market with Kyoto's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). CDM is being replaced by Article 6.4.
Not knowing that ITMO (Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcome) is the Article 6 equivalent of a carbon credit.

Exam tip

Paris Agreement memory map: Art. 2 = 1.5°C goal. Art. 4 = NDCs. Art. 6 = Carbon markets + non-market. Art. 9 = Climate finance. Art. 13 = Transparency. Article 6 rules finalised at COP26 Glasgow (2021) after years of deadlock.

Sources

Paris Agreement — Article 6 (UNFCCC, 2015)
COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact — Article 6 Rulebook
Ministry of Environment — India's Stance on Carbon Markets

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