LONDON—High oil prices have spurred countries
to use energy more efficiently, a report by an energy industry
group said, but the authors say concerted government action is
still needed to encourage less waste.
The World Energy Council, whose members
include energy companies and government bodies in 90 countries,
said a study it commissioned showed the long-standing trend of
countries using less energy to generate each dollar of GDP had
accelerated in the period 2000 to 2006, when oil prices hit new
highs.
Over the period 1990 to 2006, energy
productivity increased at an average rate of 1.3 percent, but
from 2000 to 2006, productivity grew 1.5 percent per year.
China was the principal exception, with its
improvement in energy productivity falling to 1 percent per
annum in 2000-2006 from 7.5 percent per annum in 1990-2000, as
its economic growth soared to double-digit levels.
The development of more efficient
technologies over time generally allows countries to use less
energy to perform the same tasks. However, total energy use
still tends to rise as increased wealth prompts greater overall
consumption.
Governments need to adopt a range of measures
to reduce energy waste and unnecessary CO2 production, the
report said, including tax breaks for energy-saving technology,
rises in energy prices and tougher regulations for cars and
houses.
Few countries around the world have so far
managed to generate a material portion of their energy needs
from sustainable or "green" sources, leading to increased
hydrocarbon use and higher CO2 emissions.
Many analysts believe that until cleaner
technologies are developed and adopted, energy efficiency is the
easiest way for the world to significantly curb CO2 emissions.
The WEC also encouraged governments to promote the labeling
of products to highlight their energy efficiency and to lead by
example in reducing unnecessary energy use.
