The relationship of gross national product per capita to energy consumption per capita for most countries of the world correlates very well with the status of economic and technological development. The World Bank defines developing countries as low-and middle-income countries for which the annual gross national product is $5999 or less per capita (World Bank, 1989; U.S. Congress, 1991). (more…)

World energy use has increased steadily over the past several decades. Much of the growth in world energy consumption has been concentrated on the use of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal). This trend is expected to continue over the foreseeable future. Industrially mature nations will continue to rely on fossil fuels to meet their energy needs for all end uses, but the greatest rate of energy use is projected to occur in the emerging economies of the developing world. (more…)