Coal Use and CO2 Emissions Projected to Rise By More Than 50% By 2035

The world’s hunger for energy is insatiable, according to the most recent Energy Outlook published by The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).

And if nothing changes, this will lead to an increase in coal consumption from 132 quadrillion Btu in 2007 to 206 quadrillion Btu in 2035, most of which will come from growth in India and China. As a result, annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions could rise from 29.7 billion metric tons in 2007 to 42.4 billion metric tons in 2035.

Things are generally flat in the OECD countries, as they move from manufacturing to service based economies, and focus on efficiency rather than growth in their transportation sectors. But as manufacturers locate factories in developing countries where wages are cheapest, and those wage earners increase their standard of living, the countries least equipped to invest in renewable energy and public infrastructure will be the most active in growing their energy and fuel use. So the EIA projects plenty of additional coal and oil consumption.

Policymakers refer to this as an issue of energy intensity of the economy (how much energy is used for every dollar of GDP) and carbon intensity of energy (the sources used to produce the energy.) Most of the projected growth is in countries with high energy and carbon intensity.

This good news is that this scenario is based on the reference case—which assumes that current laws and policies remain unchanged throughout the projection period. There seem to growing public and political will to make some changes. But while China and India have floated the idea of cutting their emissions intensity in half as a percent of GDP (primarily through improved energy intensity) growth in their economies and only small reductions in the carbon intensity of the energy will overrun these reductions. Before we start finger pointing, however, keep in mind that exports to the US and other OECD countries have been powering China’s industrial growth.

In any case, the reference scenario is quite scary, and we have to do much better. A healthy dose of conservation and alternative/renewable energy is needed, both in OECD and non-OECD countries. This means supporting a strong and effective energy and climate bill in the US, and the completion of the UN climate work that was started in Copenhagen. It’s going to take a global solution to tackle this problem.

Read more: EIA, global warming, sustaintmc

Chart by U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) from The International Energy Outlook 2010.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Philippa P.

12:18PM PDT on Jul 26, 2010

Frightening!

send a green star

Ellyn S.

4:24PM PDT on Jul 4, 2010

HERE IS A LETTER THAT I HAVE SENT TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO NEXT.

Right now, our planet is enduring an ecological crisis brought on by an unabated dependence on fossil fuels. This dependence needs to stop, especially since we already possess the technology, initially created by Nicola Tesla, to transform this antiquated setup. Long ago, our society obtained a number of critical inventions based on zero-point energy. They created the foundation for an electrical system that can run our homes, offices, and factories, and power vehicles that do not need constant fueling. These inventions were sequestered by our governments and developed only in secret government projects. These technologies need to be made public as they contain the solutions to our present difficulties.

We the people of Earth, whose home is being destroyed, need to demand that these already-existing technological solutions be released. They can solve our economic and financial woes, and revive our dying manufacturing sectors, giving a huge boost toward ending the current global financial doldrums.

AN ARTICLE BY BENJAMIN FULFORD ABOUT FREE ENERGY, December 12, 2009

This week I was shown a wonderful, suppressed invention
The biggest obstacle to world prosperity has been energy. This week I was shown an invention that could change all that. The Ryukyu Electric Power Company showed me a battery they have developed that can store large volumes of electricity at over 90% ef

Anubandh S.

2:15PM PDT on Jul 4, 2010

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/its-enough-stop-cold-drink-now

stop adulterated cold drink.
stop being guided my multinational monsters

Roxana J.

11:32AM PDT on Jun 23, 2010

"To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived, that is to have succeeded."

Will we succeed?

2:03PM PDT on Jun 14, 2010

Governments know that the big energy companies have been sitting on free energy technology, created by Nicola Tesla, in order to continue making their massive profits. Perhaps the beyond comprehension devastation of this oil spill will move these energy companies--the only real source of the really large funds needed for development--to begin making an effort to develop this free energy technology.

Frank P.

10:52PM PDT on Jun 7, 2010

Good information, thank you

Borg D.

9:05PM PDT on Jun 7, 2010

Wow! Thanks

johan l.

1:15AM PDT on Jun 7, 2010

You will find that if the Chinese and Indians pay enough to the ANC government, no one will disapprove of a new scheme, pollution never enters the conversation.
There are quite a few new coal-fired powerstations going up i the old Eastern and far northern Transvaal and people will suffer more and more.
Besides which most of our fruit for export is grown there!

Beng Kiat L.

9:06PM PDT on Jun 6, 2010

Thanks

Linda M.

6:19AM PDT on Jun 6, 2010