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Difficulty: MediumDebates about the Environment after 1900

"The current debate on global warming is filled with misinformation and double standards. The attempt to blame developing countries for global warming is an example of environmental colonialism. The carbon dioxide emissions of a person in the West, caused by luxury consumption, cannot be equated with the methane emissions of a peasant in a developing country, which are essential for survival. Global environmental agreements must recognize that the primary responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions lies with the industrialized nations that have historically contributed the most to atmospheric pollution."

— Anil Agarwal and Sunita Narain, Indian environmentalists, *Global Warming in an Unequal World*, 1991

Which of the following best describes the main argument of the authors regarding international environmental regulations?

  1. A
    Global treaties should prioritize the dissemination of chemical fertilizers and high-yield seeds to mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture.
  2. B
    Developing nations must resist international environmental treaties because they are covers for Western powers to annex territory and re-establish direct colonial rule.
  3. International environmental policies must differentiate between the survival-based emissions of developing countries and the consumption-based emissions of industrialized nations.Answer
  4. D
    Global environmental agreements will naturally lead to a complete homogenization of global consumer culture and eradicate local traditions.

Answer

International environmental policies must differentiate between the survival-based emissions of developing countries and the consumption-based emissions of industrialized nations.
The correct answer is correct because the authors explicitly distinguish between the emissions of a peasant in a developing country (necessary for survival) and those of a person in the West (caused by luxury consumption). They argue that international agreements must account for this disparity and place the primary responsibility for reducing emissions on industrialized nations.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus passage.
The text identifies a double standard in global warming debates: blaming developing countries ('environmental colonialism') while equating basic survival emissions (methane from peasants) with luxury emissions (carbon dioxide in the West).
Understanding the source's core perspective is essential to answering stimulus-based questions.
2
Identify the authors' proposal for international policy.
The authors state that global environmental agreements must recognize that the primary responsibility for emission reduction lies with industrialized nations due to their historical contribution.
This directly targets the core argument regarding environmental regulations after 1900.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that matches this argument.
The option advocating for differentiation between survival-based and consumption-based emissions accurately summarizes this argument.
Comparing analyzed text with choices ensures selecting the correct option based on evidence.

Key Concept

Debates about the Environment after 1900
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Debates about the Environment after 1900

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