Growing Risks Ahead - Energy and Climate: How to Achieve a Successful Energy Transition - page 11

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Growing Risks Ahead
The risks associated with energy consumption
The continuous rise in energy demand generates increasing risks not only
for our economy, but also for our entire planet as a living, habitable system.
Energy production and consumption place increasing pressure on the
environment. In addition to the problems of environmental protection
on a local and regional scale, we are now faced with the threat of climate
change.
At the same time, energy demand is now so high that it is becoming
increasingly difficult to guarantee the corresponding supply. We are
therefore faced firstly with the risk of not being able to meet the future
energy demand, and secondly with the threat of major and irreversible
damage to our environment. These threats have arisen in a context of
global economic growth which does not encourage people to adopt an
alarmist attitude. In view of the progress made, the possibility of a change
is difficult to accept. However, it will only be possible to remove the
impending dangers through a clear awareness of the risks involved.
The growing demand
Energy demand is growing steadily to meet the requirements of an
expanding global population with an improving standard of living.
Figure 2.1 illustrates the problem [2].
In 2006, the total consumption of primary energywas 2.4%higher than
2005. In its reference scenario, the IEA forecasts an average annual