Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). In the light of the statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options.
Assertion (A): Corruption is a major threat to climate action.
Reason (R): It acts as a hindrance in reducing emissions and in adapting to the unavoidable effects of global heating.
- ABoth (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- BBoth (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- C(A) is false; (R) is true
- D(A) is true; (R) is false
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Explanation
Both statements are true, and (R) explains (A).
Climate action has two parts: mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions, for example with clean energy and efficiency) and adaptation (preparing for the effects, for example flood defences and drought planning).
Corruption weakens both. Environmental rules can be bypassed, clean-energy projects are delayed, and money meant for climate-resilient works is diverted. Projects may also look green on paper but not in reality ("greenwashing"). That is why corruption is seen as a major threat to climate action.