"The huge energy challenges facing China and India are global energy challenges and call for a global response. The World Energy Outlook 2007 charts a course to a more secure, competitive, lower-carbon energy system - a course that must involve the world's two emerging giants", said Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) on November 7th 2007 in London at the launch of the latest edition of the Outlook. The annual flagship publication of the IEA this year focuses on energy developments in China and India and their implications for the world.

"WEO-2007 demonstrates more clearly than ever that, if governments don't change their policies, oil and gas imports, coal use and greenhouse-gas emissions are set to grow inexorably through to 2030 - even faster, in fact, than in last year's Outlook. These trends would threaten energy security and accelerate climate change. But the Outlook also shows how new policies can pave the way to an alternative energy future", Mr. Tanaka stressed.

The world's energy needs will be 50 % higher in 2030 than today

Energy developments in China and India are transforming the global energy system as a result of their sheer size and their growing importance in international energy markets. "Rapid economic development will undoubtedly continue to drive up energy demand in China and India, and will contribute to a real improvement in the quality of life for more than two billion people. This is a legitimate aspiration that needs to be accommodated and supported by the rest of the world", said Mr. Tanaka. "Indeed, most countries stand to benefit economically from China's and India's economic development through international trade. But the consequences of unfettered growth in global energy demand are alarming for all countries. If governments around the world stick with existing policies - the underlying premise of the WEO Reference Scenario - the world's energy needs would be well over 50 % higher in 2030 than today. China and India together account for 45 % of the increase in global primary energy demand in this scenario. Both countries' energy use is set to more than double between 2005 and 2030.

Energy-related emissions of carbon-dioxide to rise by 57 % until 2030

Worldwide, fossil fuels - oil, gas and coal - continue to dominate the fuel mix. Among them, coal is set to grow most rapidly, driven largely by power-sector demand in China and India. These trends lead to continued growth in global energy-related emissions of carbon-dioxide (CO2), from 27 Giga tons (Gt) in 2005 to 42 Gt in 2030 - a rise of 57 %. China is expected to overtake the United States to become the world's biggest emitter in 2007, while India becomes the third-biggest emitter by around 2015. China's per-capita emissions almost reach those of OECD Europe by 2030.

A radical shift in investment in favour of cleaner, more efficient and more secure energy technologies needed

"The emergence of new major players in global energy markets means that all countries must take vigorous, immediate and collective action to curb runaway energy demand", said Mr. Tanaka. "The next ten years will be crucial for all countries, including China and India, because of the rapid expansion of energy-supply infrastructure. We need to act now to bring about a radical shift in investment in favour of cleaner, more efficient and more secure energy technologies."

IEA countries have long recognised the advantages of co-operation with China and India, reflected in a steady broadening of the range of collaborative activities through the IEA. "This relationship symbolises the interdependence of the global energy community. One of my priorities as the new IEA Executive Director is to step up our co-operation with both countries. In good time this could hopefully pave the way, with the support of all the governments concerned, to an ultimate objective of their future membership of the Agency."

Further information on WEO: www.iea.org/Textbase/nptoc/WEO2007TOC.pdf

2007-11-09 | Courtesy: IEA | solarserver.com © Heindl Server GmbH