Question 24 from UPSC CSE 2022 - Environme nt

Question

Climate Action Tracker, which monitors the emission reduction pledges of different countries is a:

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Database created by coalition of research organisations

Strategy: - Focus on the phrase "monitors the emission reduction pledges," which cues an entity with a global tracking and data analysis perspective, not a regulatory or official UN body.
- Note that the term "Tracker" aligns with an independent database or research effort, distinct from formal agencies or UNFCCC committees.
- Eliminate options related to IPCC or UN financing, as these are not linked to CAT's actual foundation or funding.

Key Info: The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) is an independent scientific initiative established in 2009 for transparent analysis of government climate actions. It is a collaborative project of two research organizations: Climate Analytics (Germany) and the NewClimate Institute.

Key aspects of CAT:
- **Evaluates and tracks**: Monitors climate mitigation commitments, policies, and emission reductions of countries, comparing them against global temperature goals set by the Paris Agreement.
- **Database coverage**: Includes data from 39 countries and the EU, representing nearly 85% of global emissions and 70% of the world's population.
- **Methodology**: Utilizes climate modeling tools, such as the MAGICC model, to predict the aggregate effect of policy pledges on global temperature rise, highlighting progress and gaps.
- **Independence**: Operates as a purely research- and science-led entity, independent of UN bodies like the IPCC or UNFCCC, and is neither promoted nor financed by UNEP or the World Bank.
- **Purpose**: Its methodological approach emphasizes independent policy evaluation, temperature projections, and transparency in climate policy analysis for use by policymakers, civil society, and the international community.

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Option B: Wing of International Panel of Climate Change

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Option C: Committee under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

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Option D: Agency promoted and financed by United Nations Environment Programme and World Bank