APES 6.2 Global Energy Consumption

Enduring Understanding:

• Humans use energy from a variety of sources, resulting in positive and negative consequences.

Learning Objective:

• Describe trends in energy consumption.

Essential Knowledge:

• The use of energy resources is not evenly distributed between developed and developing countries.
• The most widely used sources of energy globally are fossil fuels.
• As developing countries become more developed, their reliance on fossil fuels for energy increases.
• As the world becomes more industrialized, the demand for energy increases.
• Availability, price, and governmental regulations influence which energy sources people use and how they use them.

Trends in Global Energy

Energy Consumption

• China and the US alone consume 40% of global energy production
• 20% of the population uses 80% of global energy
  • Developed countries consume much more energy than developing ones

Most Widely Used Sources

• Since the industrial revolution, fossil fuels have dominated the market as the major source of energy
• Coal was the first major source during the revolution, but its place has been taken by gasoline
• Nuclear was briefly made popular in the 70s but lost public faith
  • It has never gained the same trust as before, although that doesn’t stop it from being used
  • It is not increasing or decline, just staying at a constant consumption

Changes as Countries Develop

• As a country develops, their reliance on fossil fuels for energy increases
  • They consume more energy and fossil fuels are the easiest source to get it from
• As people start using motorized vehicles, devices, infrastructure, etc., that growing energy demand has to be met somehow

What Energy Source is Used?

• Many factors contribute to this decision
• Availability: What fuels can consumers actually get from their location?
  • If there is no infrastructure for a given energy source, that area cannot access it
• Price: Supply and demand, what the consumer can afford
• Government regulation: What fuels are consumers allowed to use?