So how is the world doing in decoupling CO2 emissions from economic growth and energy use? The beginnings of an answer in three charts:
It looks like world energy consumption pretty much tracks global GDP growth. How about the relationship between GDP growth and CO2 emissions:
The news is a little better here: at least in the electricity sector, CO2 emissions are leveling off despite continued GDP growth. Is this a global trend, or are some regions leading the way?
Clearly, the Europeans are doing the best job of managing economic growth without increasing CO2 emissions in the electricity sector. I won’t comment on the OECD nations, because it’s a relatively small club of countries and their membership has changed over the years covered in the above chart. As for the ‘non-OECD’ nations, that’s mostly developing countries plus China and India. Since these countries have faster rates of economic growth than Europe, one would expect their CO2 emissions growth to be somewhat higher than the latter.
Still, Europeans have experienced significant economic growth over the past 40 years, so they’re doing something right.
Next: Getting to the bottom of the matter: Energy consumption by type of fuel and region