🧷 Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📌 The Question:
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

✅ Correct Answer: (a)

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🔍 Classroom Explanation:

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (2015) is one of the most debated provisions because it deals with international cooperation mechanisms for achieving climate targets.

Article 6 has three distinct pillars:

• Article 6.2
  Enables carbon markets through Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs), allowing countries to trade emission reductions.
• Article 6.4
  Establishes a UN-supervised carbon credit mechanism (successor to the Clean Development Mechanism).
• Article 6.8
  Promotes non-market approaches such as technology transfer, capacity building, and policy coordination between countries.

Therefore:

• Statement II is correct → Article 6 lays down the framework for carbon markets.
• Statement III is correct → Article 6 explicitly supports non-market inter-country cooperation.
• Both together explain why Article 6 is frequently discussed globally.

Hence, both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both explain Statement I.

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🧠 Curiosity Raiser:
Why is Article 6 called the “engine room” of the Paris Agreement, even though it doesn’t fix emission targets itself?

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📚 Enrich Notes (Prelims Gold):

• Article 6 is voluntary, not mandatory.
• Carbon markets under Article 6 aim to reduce global mitigation costs.
• Article 6.8 is crucial for developing countries that lack market readiness.
• Disputes at COPs often revolve around double counting of carbon credits under Article 6.

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🕊️ IAS Monk Whisper:
“Climate cooperation is not charity; it is collective survival negotiated through trust.”