This OpenMinds primer defines the Dual Challenge: meeting the growing demand for energy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of enhancing human wellbeing everywhere. Written for readers with no prior background in energy or climate, it draws on sources including the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report and BP's Statistical Review of World Energy.
Key points
- Fossil fuels supply about 80% of global energy, a share that has not changed meaningfully in 30 years while total supply grew 60%. Wind and solar make up 3%.
- Some 675 million people lack access to electricity, and 2.4 billion lack clean cooking fuels.
- The cumulative effect of human emissions has warmed the Earth about 1.2°C since pre-industrial times.
- Since 1970, total energy consumption tripled and emissions doubled. The primer concludes that emissions cuts will almost certainly need to happen while energy demand keeps rising.
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