More energy please, but keep it clean

As the 21st century moves toward the tail end of its first decade, the quest for energy has firmly cemented itself among the most urgent challenges facing the world.

Rich countries are trying to work out how to meet growing demand while producing less carbon dioxide, which many fear is contributing to a dangerous warming of the planet.
Making the goods that use energy more efficiently has so far failed to provide a solution, as greater efficiency often leads to greater demand for the goods, or a desire for larger or more complex models.

The spread of computers into offices, homes, schools, briefcases and pockets provides a classic example.

In this country a major study published this year by Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) found energy consumption per person had risen 13 per cent between 1997 and 2005.

The increase was primarily driven by increased use of vehicles, SNZ said.

At the same time in fast growing economies such as China and India huge numbers of people are staking claims to the lifestyle only intensive energy use makes possible.

Stuff