The UPSC brief that maps the day's news to your syllabus.

Key facts

• BRICS Environment and Climate Ministers collectively termed CBAM 'unilateral, punitive, discriminatory and protectionist' — not in line with international law.
• EU's CBAM imposes a carbon price on imports of carbon-intensive goods (steel, cement, aluminium, fertilizers, electricity, hydrogen) from non-EU countries.
• CBAM transitional phase ran from October 2023; full implementation begins January 2026.
• BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (plus newer members) — are major exporters of carbon-intensive goods affected by CBAM.
• Critics argue CBAM violates WTO's Most Favoured Nation (MFN) and non-discrimination principles.
• CBAM contradicts UNFCCC's principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), which exempts developing nations from equal carbon obligations.

Concepts to know

Linked previous-year questions

The UPSC questions this story connects to.

1. Consider the following statements: 1. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in respect of carbon credits is one of the Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms. 2. Under the CDM, the projects handled pertain only to the Annex-I countries. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

   • a.1 only ✓
   • b.2 only
   • c.Both 1 and 2
   • d.Neither 1 nor 2
   Environment · UPSC 2008

2. 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

   • 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
   Environment · UPSC 2025

3. Consider the following statements: 1. Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) to Reduce Short Lived Climate Pollutants is a unique initiative of G20 group of countries. 2. The CCAC focuses on methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

   • a.1 only
   • b.2 only ✓
   • c.Both 1 and 2
   • d.Neither 1 nor 2
   Environment · UPSC 2017

4. 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 greenhouse gas emissions so that the rise in average global temperature by the end of this century does not exceed 2 degrees C or even 1.5 degrees C 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. (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

   • a.1 and 3 only
   • b.2 only ✓
   • c.2 and 3 only
   • d.1, 2 and 3
   Environment · UPSC 2016

5. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The European Parliament approved The Net-Zero Industry Act recently. Statement-II: The European Union intends to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 and therefore aims to develop all of its own clean technology by that time. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. (b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I (c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

   • a.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I.
   • b.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
   • c.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect ✓
   • d.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
   International Relations · UPSC 2024

6. With reference to 'Global Climate Change Alliance', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is an initiative of the European Union. 2. It provides technical and financial support to targeted developing countries to integrate climate change into their development policies and budgets. 3. It is coordinated by World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

   • a.1 and 2 only ✓
   • b.3 only
   • c.2 and 3 only
   • d.1, 2 and 3
   Environment · UPSC 2017