International Current Affairs MCQs - 2026-07-20

Climate finance remains a contentious and crucial issue in international climate negotiations. COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, is specifically expected to focus on setting the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance post-2025, making it a central theme for discussions at this and subsequent summits.

The Global Stocktake at COP28 highlighted the gap in achieving the Paris Agreement goals. Consequently, a primary expectation for countries at subsequent COPs, particularly COP30 in 2025, is to submit new, more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that align with the 1.5°C target.

At COP28 in Dubai in December 2023, a landmark decision was made to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund, which aims to provide financial assistance to developing countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.

The Ezulwini Consensus (2005) and the Sirte Declaration (2005) collectively form the common African position on the reform of the UN Security Council, demanding two permanent and five non-permanent seats for Africa, with all the prerogatives and privileges of permanent membership, including the right to veto.

The "Uniting for Consensus" (UfC) group, led by Italy and Pakistan, primarily opposes the creation of new permanent seats in the UN Security Council. Instead, they advocate for an increase in the number of non-permanent members, possibly with longer terms.

The G4 nations (Brazil, Germany, India, Japan) have consistently advocated for the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent categories of the UN Security Council to make it more representative and effective.