Global Energy Consumption
Introduced| English | Meaning |
|---|---|
| fossil fuels/ˈfɒsl ˈfjuːəlz/ | Coal, oil and natural gas formed from ancient organic matter over millions of years. |
| developed/dɪˈveləpt/ | developed |
A hungry world
- Every country runs on energy, and the total keeps climbing.
- More people and richer lives mean more energy used.
- But not everyone uses the same amount.
- Let's see where the world's energy goes.
Fossil fuels dominate
- About 80% of world energy still comes from fossil fuels 化石燃料.
- Oil is the single biggest source, then coal and natural gas.
- Renewables like solar and wind grow fast but are still a smaller share.
- So most of our energy today is nonrenewable and polluting.
Approximate world primary energy mix: about 80% fossil fuels
Most of the world's energy today comes from…
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Coal, oil, and natural gas together supply about 80% of world energy. Renewables are growing but still a smaller share.
Very unequal use
- Wealthy developed 发达的 countries use far more energy per person.
- Cars, heating, air-conditioning, and industry all add up.
- A person in a poor country may use only a small fraction as much.
- So energy use per person is highly unequal around the world.
Big share or small share of world energy?
Sort each source by how much of the world's energy it supplies today.
Compared with a poorer country, a wealthy developed country usually uses…
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Wealthy countries use far more energy per person — for cars, heating, appliances, and industry.
As populations and economies grow, total world energy demand is ____ (rising / falling).
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More people and richer lifestyles push global energy demand steadily upward.
Rising demand
- As populations grow, total energy demand rises.
- As poorer countries develop, their energy use climbs too.
- This steady rise strains supplies and increases pollution.
- It is the pressure behind the whole energy topic.
Energy use per person is roughly equal in every country.
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Per-person energy use varies enormously — a person in a wealthy country may use many times more than one in a poor country.
Select all true statements about global energy use.
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Fossil fuels dominate, wealthy countries use more per person, and total demand rises. Use is very unequal.
Two different numbers matter. Total energy use is highest in big, developing countries (huge populations). But energy use per person is highest in wealthy countries. Don't confuse them: a country can have high total use and modest per-person use, or the reverse.
Two countries:
- Country A has a huge population and a fast-growing economy — its total energy use is among the world's highest.
- Country B is small and wealthy — its total use is modest, but per person it uses far more.
- Both facts are true at once; you have to say which measure you mean.
The world's energy demand keeps rising as populations and economies grow. About 80% still comes from fossil fuels, with oil the biggest source. Energy use is very unequal: wealthy developed countries use far more per person than poorer ones, even when a large developing country has a higher total.