The statistics on energy consumption are finally out.
BP released their annual review of world energy consumption, and for the first time China came out on top.
In a year, Chinese energy consumption rose 11.2%, putting it at 20.3% of global energy demand, the highest of any nation.
Compare this to the United States’ 3.7% rise and position at 19% of global demand.
Total global demand rose 5.6%, marking the largest overall rise since 1973.
This does not bode well for CO2 emissions, which rose 5.8%, a number China contributed to significantly.
Several European Union nations involved in the Kyoto Protocol – a 1997 agreement to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions – reduced their CO2 emissions by 6.9%.
Unfortunately, this did little to slow the overall rise in emissions as China continues to grow and industrialize.
In 2010, China accounted for 48% of the world’s coal use, the second most globally used fuel.
Overall, coal demand and consumption rose 7.6%.
Oil, the world’s principal energy source, rose 3.1%.
But hydroelectric power – an important renewable energy source – managed to rise 6.5% as well due to growth in China.
China currently provides for 60% of the world’s hydroelectric power.
The United States is cutting down on the dirtier fossil fuels as it ups its natural gas output.
23% of its current natural gas production comes from shale gas, in accordance with the recent shale boom.
The world is continuing to industrialize, so it shouldn’t come as a great surprise to see energy demand on the rise.
Although this means a rise in the use of fossil fuels, renewable energy sources go along with it.
Perhaps this can help reduce those nasty CO2 emissions.
That’s all for now,
Brianna
