Rise of an energy colossus

About 40% of the world’s population now relies on traditional biomass, such as wood, agricultural residues and dung, to meet their energy needs. And about 1.6 million women and children in developing countries die annually as a result of poisoning by the noxious fumes generated by indoor biomass stoves.

Fortunately, this will change in coming years as poor nations increasingly adopt modern fuel sources such as oil, gas and coal. The emergence of China and India as major economies will be especially significant in this respect. The city of Beijing, to offer one dramatic example, is now adding about 30,000 cars to its streets every month. Where will the energy come from to fuel this boom?

NationalPost