UPSC » Ecology & Environment Consider the following statement

Ecology & Environment Consider the following statement

Q. Consider the following statements:

I. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in India are less than 0.5 t CO2/capita.
II. In terms of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, India ranks second in Asia-Pacific region.
III. Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO2 emissions in India.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) I and III only
(b) II only
(c) II and III only
(d) I, II and III

18. निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए:

I. भारत में कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड (CO2) उत्सर्जन 0.5 t CO2 प्रति व्यक्ति से कम है।
II. ईंधन दहन से CO2 उत्सर्जन के आधार पर, भारत एशिया-प्रशांत क्षेत्र में दूसरे स्थान पर है।
III. भारत में विद्युत् और ताप उत्पादक, CO2 उत्सर्जन के सबसे बड़े स्रोत हैं।

उपर्युक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/कौन-से सही है/हैं?

(a) केवल I और III
(b) केवल II
(c) केवल II और III
(d) I, II और III

Correct Answer: (c)

Explanation:

Statement I is incorrect:

India’s carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are not less than 0.5 t CO₂ per capita.

  • India’s per capita CO₂ emissions are significantly higher than 0.5 tonnes per person.
  • According to international estimates, India’s per capita emissions are approximately 1.8–2.0 tonnes per capita.
  • Although India’s per capita emissions remain lower than many developed countries, they are still above the 0.5 t threshold.

Statement II is correct:

India ranks second in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of CO₂ emissions from fuel combustion.

  • China ranks first, while India is the second-largest emitter of CO₂ from fuel combustion in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • This is mainly due to India’s large population and dependence on coal-based energy generation.

Statement III is correct:

Electricity and heat producers are the largest sources of CO₂ emissions in India.

  • The power sector, especially coal-fired electricity and heat generation, contributes the largest share of India’s CO₂ emissions.
  • Growing electricity demand and reliance on thermal power plants make this sector the primary source of emissions.

Conclusion:

  • Statement I is incorrect because India’s per capita CO₂ emissions are more than 0.5 t CO₂/capita.
  • Statement II is correct because India ranks second in the Asia-Pacific region in fuel combustion-related CO₂ emissions.
  • Statement III is correct because electricity and heat production are the largest contributors to CO₂ emissions in India.
  • Therefore, the correct answer is (c) II and III only.

Source :

https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-s-per-capita-ghg-emissions-far-below-world-average-unep-report-122102700824_1.html

https://www.iea.org/countries/india/emissions