Energy Scenarios in the United States and in the European Union

Energy Scenarios in the United States and in the European Union:
Energy Mix, Dependency on Imports, CO₂ Emissions

A Database of selected US Government and European Commission primary sources

by Carina Bachofen, SWP/INTACT, March 2004

Introduction

A long-lasting and secure supply of energy lies in the interest of all modern economies. Particularly for the United States and for the European Union, access to energy resources is of great strategic-political importance. A second pressing political challenge related to energy production is global climate change, specifically with regards to energy-related CO₂ emissions and energy intensity. By the year 2030, although an annual decline of worldwide energy intensity by 1.2% is expected, the rate of energy consumption will have steadily climbed, placing increased pressure on already scare resources. These concerns, compounded by rising dependency on energy imports creates increasingly complex and potentially dangerous energy scenarios on both sides of the Atlantic. Fundamental changes in the energy policies of the United States and of the European Union are essential in order to mitigate the risks posed by energy security and accelerating climate change.

This database consists of a series of links to important texts regarding the security of energy supply, import dependency, energy intensity and climate protection in the United States and in the European Union.

The first table presents links to sources describing the energy mix of coal, natural gas, oil, renewable energy and nuclear energy in the world and on both sides of the Atlantic today, as well as to websites that provide insight into the expected energy mix of the world in the year 2030. The collected sources not only give an overview of the present-day situation regarding energy supply and demand, but also bring to attention the potentially perilous scenarios that await the European Union and the United States alike should the energy demand continue to rise without complementary effective strategies to reduce consumption patterns.

In the second and third tables, links to statistics and documents concerning dependency on energy imports, as well as rising energy-related CO₂ emissions and energy intensity have been organized into the categories "Worldwide", "United States", "European Union". These categories enable one to gain a clearer understanding of factors which European and American policymakers have considered when creating energy strategies.

Accordingly, the fourth table provides links to various texts which outline the cornerstones of American and EU energy strategies, that have been developed thus far to combat unbridled energy consumption habits and consequential rising CO₂ emissions.