Q. The main threat to maintaining progress in human development comes from the increasingly evident unsustainability of production and consumption patterns.
Current production models rely heavily on fossil fuels. We now know that this is unsustainable because the resources are finite. The close link between economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions needs to be severed for human development to become truly sustainable. Some developed countries have begun to alleviate the worst effects by expanding recycling and investing in public transport and infrastructure. But most developing countries are hampered by the high costs and low availability of clean energy sources. Developed countries need to support developing countries’ transition to sustainable human development.
Q. 1. Unsustainability in production pattern is due to which of the following?
1. Heavy dependence on fossil fuels
2. Limited availability of resources
3. Expansion of recycling
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- a. 1 and 2 only
- b. 2 only
- c. 1 and 3 only
- d. 1, 2 and 3
Q. 2. Consider the following statements:
Developed countries can support developing countries’ transition to sustainable human development by
1. making clean energy sources available at low cost
2. providing loans for improving their public transport at nominal interest rates
3. encouraging them to change their production and consumption patterns
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- a. 1 only
- b. 1 and 2 only
- c. 2 and 3 only
- d. 1, 2 and 3
Question from UPSC Prelims 2022 CSAT Paper
Explanation :
Q1: Correct Answer – a. 1 and 2 only
Explanation – The correct answer is a. 1 and 2 only. The unsustainability in production pattern is due to heavy dependence on fossil fuels and limited availability of resources. Expansion of recycling is a measure taken by some developed countries to alleviate the worst effects of unsustainable production patterns, but it is not a cause of unsustainability in production patterns.
Q2: Correct Answer – d. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation – The correct answer is d. 1, 2 and 3. All three statements are correct ways in which developed countries can support developing countries’ transition to sustainable human development. Developed countries can make clean energy sources available at low cost, provide loans for improving public transport at nominal interest rates and encourage developing countries to change their production and consumption patterns.
