🖋️ Written Ability Test (WAT) / Essay Analysis Guide
💡 Should Governments Implement Policies to Phase Out Coal by 2030?
🌟 Understanding the Topic’s Importance
- Significance: This topic addresses environmental sustainability, energy transition, and economic restructuring—key themes for B-school case studies and strategic policy analysis.
📖 Effective Planning and Writing
- Time Allocation:
- Reading and Planning: 5 minutes
- Writing: 20 minutes
- Review: 5 minutes
- Preparation Tips:
- Identify 2-3 key statistics for credibility.
- Outline the roles of stakeholders and anticipate challenges.
✍️ Introduction Techniques
- Template A: Contrast Approach: “Coal, a cornerstone of industrial development, now stands as a major obstacle in combating climate change.”
- Template B: Timeline Approach: “From the industrial revolution to today’s climate crisis, coal’s trajectory highlights the need for a decisive shift by 2030.”
📊 Structuring the Essay Body
🏆 Achievements:
- Example: Germany’s 2030 coal phase-out plan sets a precedent.
- Data: Renewables generated over 30% of global power in 2023 (IEA).
⚠️ Challenges with Comparative Analysis:
- Workforce Transition: A pressing issue in coal-dependent nations like India.
- Technology Gaps: Energy storage challenges compared to nations like Norway.
🔮 Future Outlook:
- Collaborative models like Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs).
- Innovations in green hydrogen and energy storage solutions.
✅ Concluding Effectively
- Balanced Perspective: “Coal phase-out policies must be bold yet inclusive, balancing economic and environmental needs.”
- Global Comparison Approach: “Drawing lessons from Germany and South Korea, governments can design effective phase-out policies by 2030.”
🔍 Analyzing Successes and Shortcomings
- Achievements: Reduction in emissions, renewable cost parity, global commitments.
- Challenges: Financial and technological gaps, uneven global readiness.
🔧 Recommendations for Sustainable Progress
- Public-private partnerships for renewable infrastructure development.
- Skill development programs tailored for transitioning coal workers.
- Financial incentives for early adoption of renewable energy sources.
📝 Sample Short Essays
1. Balanced Perspective:
“Coal phase-out policies embody the global shift toward sustainability. However, equitable transition frameworks must ensure no community is left behind.”
2. Solution-Oriented:
“By incentivizing renewable investments and workforce retraining, governments can phase out coal without economic disruptions.”
3. Global Comparison:
“As Germany leads with a 2030 coal phase-out, other nations must follow suit, adapting strategies to their socio-economic contexts.”