Despite current efforts to limit carbon emissions, the world’s energy-related carbon dioxide emissions are expected to increase 60 percent above 1997 levels by 2020, according to a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The “World Energy Outlook 2000,” released in November, attempts to account for current policies and measures to combat climate change, but still predicts a steady 2 percent annual growth in world energy use through 2020. Most of the increases in both energy use and emissions will come in developing countries. Although renewables other than hydropower are projected to be the fastest-growing energy source during this period—averaging 2.8 percent growth per year—their share of the world energy supply climbs to only 3 percent from today’s 2 percent share. Oil, gas, and coal will continue to dominate the world fuel mix, with increasing dependency on OPEC members in the Middle East.
Noting that these are “sobering statistics,” the IEA report also examines additional policy options for reducing carbon emissions, including emissions trading schemes, efforts to reduce emissions from transportation, and efforts to reduce emissions from power generation.
For more information about the IEA report, visit www.iea.org/new/releases.
