APTI PLUS Academy For Civil Services

President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, raising concerns about global climate change mitigation efforts. The Paris Agreement was adopted on December 12, 2015, during the 21st UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, is a legally binding international treaty aimed at combating climate change. Its primary objective is to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with an aspiration to restrict the increase to 1.5°C. Key Features of the Paris Agreement: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Each participating country sets its own greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, known as NDCs, which are to be updated every five years with increasing ambition. Financial Support: Developed nations are encouraged to provide financial assistance to developing countries to aid in mitigation and adaptation efforts. Transparency and Accountability: The agreement establishes a framework for monitoring, reporting, and verifying emissions reductions to ensure transparency and accountability among nations. Recent Developments: U.S. Withdrawal: In January 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement for the second time. This decision has been met with international criticism, as the U.S. is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases. Global Commitment: Despite the U.S. withdrawal, European leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos have reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the importance of continued climate action.

Heavy sand mining in riverbeds leads to the increase of velocity of the flowing water, thereby eventually erode the river banks. Sand aquifer helps in recharging the water table; its progressive depletion in the river is accompanied by the lowering of the water table in the nearby areas. As the turbidity increases at the mining site, saline water intrusion takes along the coastal aquifers thereby polluting the ground water. It also leads to an imminent danger of saline water ingress into fresh water.

Soil water-holding capacity is the amount of water that a soil can hold for crop use. Soil texture and organic matter are the key components that determine soil water holding capacity. Sulpur is one of three nutrients that are cycled between the soil, plant matter and the atmosphere. Although sulphur is primarily found in sedimentary rocks, it is particularly important to living things as it is a component of many proteins. Sulphur is released by the weathering of rocks and minerals. Soil salinity is an enormous problem for agriculture under irrigation. Irrigation over a period of time can contribute to the salinization of some agricultural lands as deposits of salts build up in the soil and can cause harm to crops.

With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements: 1. A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water holding capacity. 2. Soil does not play any role in the sulphur cycle. 3. Irrigation over a period of time can contribute to the salinization of some agricultural lands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?