Energy security and climate change
Developing countries contain five-sixths of the world’s population and use about half the world’s energy, but their demand is growing faster than richer countries’. Global energy use increased by about 2.6 percent from 2006 to 2007, but in fast-growing East Asia and the Pacific, energy use grew by 5.6 percent.
World demand for energy is surging. The share of energy production from alternative sources has increased slightly since 1990, but fossil fuels supplied more than 80 percent of the world’s total energy production in 2007. Fossil fuels are the primary source of carbon dioxide emissions, which, along with the other greenhouse gases, are believed to be the principal cause of global climate change. Producing the energy needed for growth while mitigating its effects on the world’s climate is a global challenge for everyone.
As economies develop, technological progress and a shift away from energyintensive activities help to increase energy efficiency, but rising incomes and growing populations increase the demand for energy. As a result, between 1990 and 2007 worldwide energy use increased by about 36 percent, while the population rose by only 25 percent.
Carbon dioxide emissions are highest in high-income economies, and still growing Carbon dioxide emissions per capita (metric tons) 14 12 10 8 6 4 1990 2007
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1990 2007
1990 2007
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1990 2007
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1990 2007
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1990 2007
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The four largest emitters account for about half of all carbon dioxide emissions produced in 2007, but average emissions per person in China and India are still quite low Carbon dioxide emissions (billion metric tons)
20
6 15
5 4
United States
China
Source: CDIAC and World Bank estimates
Russian Federation
India
United States
Russian Federation
2007
1990
2007
2007
1990
China
1990
0
2007
5 1990
1990
2007
1990
2007
1990
0
2007
2
2007
10
3
1
118
Carbon emissions per capita (metric tons)
7
1990
data.worldbank.org/atlas-global/energy See pp. 6–7 for more information
Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) and World Bank estimates
India