7.2.2—Global energy consumption rising
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 7.2.2
- Level
- HL
A Growing Share Is Not a Falling Total
Global energy consumption rises when population grows and when average energy use per person increases.
Fossil fuels still provide most global energy, while renewable supply is growing. Steel, concrete and synthetic-fertilizer production remain strongly dependent on fossil fuels, so changing supply and reducing consumption must occur together.
A country can add renewable generation while total demand grows so quickly that absolute fossil-fuel use does not fall; compare total energy, source shares and absolute amounts over the same period.
A rising renewable percentage shows a changing mix, not by itself a decline in fossil-fuel consumption.
Share, absolute amount and per-capita use answer different questions.