Energy consumption is a vital topic due to its direct link with the global economy, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. The use of energy propels industries, powers homes, and fuels transportation, all of which are integral to societal progress and economic growth. However, the world's current energy practices largely depend on non-renewable and carbon-intensive sources, contributing significantly to climate change and environmental degradation. This underlines the importance of efficient energy consumption and the transition towards renewable energy sources, both of which are essential to curbing greenhouse gas emissions and preserving the planet for future generations. Furthermore, in regions where energy access remains limited, addressing energy consumption is crucial for improving living conditions, promoting socio-economic development, and achieving equity. Therefore, focusing on energy consumption is indispensable for sustainable development and global well-being.
The above earth shows the consumption of each country. You can move the earth, clicking and checking a specific country. This website mainly foucs on the relationships between energy consumptions and climate change. Furthermore, we will discuss the development of green energy, especially in the top consumptioned countries.
Since the pre-industrial period, almost all observed warming (1.1 degrees Celsius/2 degrees Fahrenheit) is the result of human activities. From the temerature anomly chart, warming is obvious in recent years. In fact, the greenhouse gas emissions from human activities are projected to warm the Earth by approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), but a portion of this warming is offset by the emission of air pollutants known as aerosols, which have a cooling effect overall. The largest contributors to global warming are carbon dioxide, followed by methane and nitrous oxide.
How do we know that global warming is not caused by natural factors? Natural factors that influence global temperature changes over short periods (from years to decades) have not had a significant impact on global temperatures since the pre-industrial period. Large-scale volcanic eruptions are an example of natural variability that can temporarily lower global temperatures over a few years but do not affect long-term temperature trends. Right chart illustrates how greenhouse gases, air pollutants (aerosols), and natural factors have influenced global temperatures since 1850. Only when human-induced greenhouse gas emissions are included in climate models can they reproduce the observed temperature changes. This is one way we understand that human activities are causing climate warming.
Note: Humans are responsible for climate warming. Climate model simulations (shaded areas) can only reproduce the observed global temperature changes (white line) when human-induced emissions are included. This graph illustrates global temperature changes from climate model simulations, including: greenhouse gases only (red), aerosols (air pollutants) and other anthropogenic drivers only (blue), natural factors only (green), or a combination of all factors (gray). Combination = natural factors + aerosols + greenhouse gases. Solid/dashed lines represent the average of all models, while shaded areas indicate the range of simulation uncertainties. Data from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.
To prevent severe climate change we need to rapidly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The world emits around 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases each year [measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq)].
To figure out how we can most effectively reduce emissions and what emissions can and can't be eliminated with current technologies, we need to first understand where our emissions come from.
The following chart is an important one that shows the breakdown of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2016. This is the latest breakdown of global emissions by sector, published by Climate Watch and the World Resources Institute.
The overall picture you see from this diagram is that almost three-quarters of emissions come from energy use; almost one-fifth from agriculture and land use [this increases to one-quarter when we consider the food system as a whole – including processing, packaging, transport and retail]; and the remaining 8% from industry and waste.
Note: You can click on the sectors in the chart to see more details and click center "Propotion" to go back
Using clean energy can help to reduce CO2 emissions. Clean energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, do not release carbon dioxide when generating electricity. By transitioning from fossil fuels, which are major contributors to CO2 emissions, to clean energy sources, we can significantly reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
Income is a strong determinant of energy access and types of fuel sources. In the figure we see the World Health Organization (WHO)'s depiction of the 'energy ladder'. It shows how the dominant source of energy changes depending on the level of income.
At low income levels households rely mostly on solid traditional fuel sources such as crop waste, dung, and firewood. As incomes rise, this energy mix tends to transition towards charcoal and coal. Only at higher income levels do households shift from the harmful solid fuels to cleaner non-solid fuels such as ethanol and natural gas. Electricity is only available for households at a high income level.
The latest data on this relationship between fuel type and income is shown in the scatterplot. It shows the percentage of households in countries around the world with access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking (on the y-axis) versus the average income in the country.
The share of households with access to clean energy in countries below a GDP per capita level of $2,000 per year is typically less than 10%. As countries begin to bridge that gap between low and middle incomes, this share begins to increase until a final transition towards high-income where the majority of households have clean fuels and technologies for cooking.
It is important to address the disparity in access to clean energy, particularly for lower-income households, as improving access to clean energy sources can have significant benefits for both the environment and human health.
You can click on continent buttons to see the change of the proportions of clean energy acess over time in a country level.
Green energy represents a powerful tool for reducing CO2 emissions. Not only does it curtail the burning of fossil fuels, but it also enables societies to operate with a much lighter carbon footprint. With the dual threats of global warming and environmental degradation, it's critical that humanity transitions to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. Green energy, which includes solar, wind, hydro, and solar, among others, can significantly decrease our reliance on carbon-emitting fuels, subsequently mitigating their deleterious environmental impacts.
However, the development and adoption of green energy varies widely across different nations, each characterized by their unique circumstances, resources, and geopolitical realities. Hence, the journey towards green energy isn't a one-size-fits-all solution; it must be tailored to the specific conditions of each country.
By examining the specifics of different countries, especially those with the highest energy consumption, we can gain valuable insights on how to expedite our transition towards a greener future. Countries like China, the United States, and India, which together account for a large percentage of global energy consumption, offer case studies in the challenges and opportunities associated with green energy transition. Understanding these particulars can inform policymakers and stakeholders in devising effective, adaptable, and responsive strategies, setting us on a more defined and promising path to a sustainable, low-carbon future.
The following table shows the summary of green energy and energy consumption of the top 5 most energy consuption country. You can click the row to see details.
| Country (region) | Annual Consumption |
Green Energy Consumption |
Percentage of Green Energy |
Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
China |
43,791 TWh |
6,547 TWh |
14.95% |
1 |
|
China consumed 43,791 TWh in 2021. Compared to 1965, it has grown +2,751%. Specifically, in 2021, green energy was consumed 6,547 TWh, which is about 14.95% of total energy consumption. | ||||
United States |
25,825 TWh |
2,753 TWh |
10.66% |
2 |
|
The United States consumed 25,825 TWh in 2021. Compared to 1965, it has grown +79%. Specifically, in 2021, green energy was consumed 2,753 TWh, which is about 10.66% of total energy consumption. | ||||
India |
9,841 TWh |
916 TWh |
9.31% |
3 |
|
India consumed 9,841 TWh in 2021. Compared to 1965, it has grown +1,489%. Specifically, in 2021, green energy was consumed 916 TWh, which is about 9.31% of total energy consumption. | ||||
Russia |
8,694 TWh |
539 TWh |
6.62% |
4 |
|
Russia consumed 8,694 TWh in 2021. Compared to 1985, it has grown -9%. Specifically, in 2021, green energy was consumed 539 TWh, which is about 6.62% of total energy consumption. | ||||
Japan |
4,928 TWh |
563 TWh |
11.43% |
5 |
|
Japan consumed 4,928 TWh in 2021. Compared to 1965, it has grown +170%. Specifically, in 2021, green energy was consumed 563 TWh, which is about 11.43% of total energy consumption. | ||||
From the above table we could see that most energy-consuming countries have a relatively low level of development in terms of their green energy sectors. While there have been strides in recent years to incorporate more renewable energy sources into their energy grids, the proportion of green energy used in these countries remains substantially lower than it could be. This gap represents both a significant challenge and an opportunity for these countries to take the lead in the global transition to sustainable energy sources.
Indeed, these high-energy-consuming countries should place greater emphasis on the development and deployment of green energy technologies. Investing more in renewable energy is not only environmentally responsible but also economically strategic. As the world progressively shifts towards sustainable practices, a substantial green energy sector could be a significant source of job creation, technological innovation, and economic growth. By fostering an environment conducive to green energy research and development, these nations can also position themselves at the forefront of this burgeoning sector. Governments can incentivize this shift through various means such as subsidies for renewable energy projects, regulations to phase out fossil fuels, and public education to encourage sustainable consumption practices. The transition to a greener future is both a necessity and an opportunity; thus, ramping up investments in green energy is paramount.