Global Warming and Energy Consumption on the Rise as Population Nears 6.5 Billion

Strategic Insights -

The world is getting hotter and using more fossil fuels as people get richer and the population surges towards the 6.5 billion mark. According to the Worldwatch Institute's Vital Signs publication, the amount of greenhouse gases working their way into the atmosphere is at an all-time high, with the world consuming more oil and coal. However, there are signs that dependence on fossil fuels may be ebbing with big increases in ethanol, solar, and wind energy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The world's population has increased by 74 million since 2004, reaching 6.45 billion, with a growth rate of 1.1% per annum.
  • The world consumed 3.8 billion tons of oil in 2005, an increase of 1.3% over 2004, with coal use rising 6.3% to 2.8 billion tons of oil equivalent.
  • Alternative energy fuels are on the rise, with ethanol production soaring 19% to 36.5 billion liters, solar power capacity increasing 45% to 1,700 megawatts, and wind power capacity growing 24% to 59,600 megawatts.
  • The world now has more than 603 million cars and 220 million light trucks on its roads, with 45.6 million passenger cars built and 101 million bicycles made in 2005.
  • Carbon dioxide concentration reached 379.6 parts per million in 2005, the largest ever recorded increase, with emissions from fossil fuel burning reaching a record 7.6 billion tons.
  • The average temperature in 2005 was 14.6 degrees Celsius, the warmest year ever recorded on the Earth's surface, with five of the warmest years on record occurring since 1998.
  • Weather-related disasters in 2005 cost the globe $US204 billion, with the average number of people affected by such disasters reaching 260 million.

Statistics:

  • 6.45 billion: the world's population in 2005
  • 3.8 billion tons: oil consumed by the world in 2005
  • 1.3%: increase in oil consumption over 2004
  • 2.8 billion tons: coal consumed by the world in 2005
  • 6.3%: increase in coal consumption over 2004
  • 36.5 billion liters: ethanol production in 2005
  • 45%: increase in solar power capacity over 2004
  • 59,600 megawatts: wind power capacity in 2005
  • 4.5%: increase in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning over 2004
  • 7.6 billion tons: carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning in 2005
  • 379.6 parts per million: carbon dioxide concentration in 2005
  • 14.6 degrees Celsius: average temperature in 2005
  • $US204 billion: cost of weather-related disasters in 2005
  • 260 million: average number of people affected by weather-related disasters in 2005

Sources:

  • Worldwatch Institute's Vital Signs publication
  • The Asia Pulse article (no date mentioned)