CIRCULAR LEARNINGS

Explanation

At the COP28 (Dubai, 2023), the Declaration on Climate and Health was introduced to promote climate-resilient and low-carbon health systems.

Statement I is correct. India refrained from signing this declaration, reflecting its cautious approach towards commitments that may affect domestic policy flexibility and implementation feasibility.

Statement II is incorrect. The declaration is non-binding in nature. It is a voluntary statement of intent and does not legally mandate countries to decarbonize their health sector.

Statement III is correct. Concerns exist that rapid or rigid decarbonization of the health sector, especially in a developing country like India, may affect operational reliability—for example, access to affordable cooling and energy in hospitals, particularly in heat-prone or resource-constrained regions. This explains India’s hesitation.

Thus, only Statement III is correct, and it explains why India refrained from signing the declaration.