“Only high-income countries can effectively develop sustainable sources of energy.” Discuss this statement, referring to examples.

There are many possible approaches to this question, and each should be marked on its merits.

It is expected that candidates will mention more than one type of sustainable energy and attempt to distinguish between them. The question also demands some comparison between high-income and low-income countries in terms of the uptake of sustainable energies/renewables.

Many responses may look at the successful strides many lower income nations are making in the effective use of renewables such as India with biogas, China with hydro electric power and solar energy, and Brazil with ethanol.

Responses at band D are likely to provide a descriptive account of sustainable sources of energy and their merits, without any real attempt to link the discussion to examples that reveal the idea that adopting sustainable sources of energy could be regarded as a costly venture that only high-income countries can afford. Responses at this level may conclude that some forms of sustainable energy are less costly than others to introduce and implement.

At band E, responses are likely to demonstrate either a clear understanding that changing to sustainable sources of energy implies significant economic and possibly social costs, but that such a change is essential for development to be ecologically sustainable or contest the statement by, for instance, offering examples that demonstrate that even some non-wealthy countries have made great strides in changing to sustainable sources of energy.

At band F, responses should incorporate both these ideas, though not necessarily in equal depth, and should provide a conclusion that matches the arguments advanced.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.