Coal consumption to grow

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

The report (based on current trends) predicts that things will be 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, those countries will be the most active in growing their energy and fuel use – mainly coal and oil.

Nothing new. We have been hearing this for some time. But it’s the kind of stalemate with no clear solution. Can the developing nations take on the burden of climate change and give up on its development chart? No. Will the rich nations fund clean energy in these poor nations? Hardly anything substantial to help make the total shift. So then, we are left with the business as usual scenario. Energy intensity helps a bit but not enough to alleviate the climate damage.

As Baloo the bear asks Mowgli, ‘what do we do?’