Ratio of energy emissions and population over 60 years

 2021.05.25 – Ian Page

The following graphic shows some interesting things

  1. The relation between energy consumption and emissions hasn't changed much in 50 years and I can't see an obvious change in the last few years. overall
  2. The energy per person increased until US peak oil, then was relatively flat for 20 years until the shale oil/interest rate reductions, disinflationary entry of china to the world economy, choose your reason, and has then been pretty flat for the last 8 years.  Gail Tverberg would interpret the consumption of energy as a metric of how well-off people are becoming. Thus, her interpretation would be that people got richer until the late 70's, didn't get any richer for 20 years, then got a bit richer but only because of flooding the economy with low-cost money.
  3. There is some evidence that emissions per capita have dropped a bit lately- hopefully renewables and energy efficiency are having some effect, or it could just be that people in the US can't afford to travel as far to work on minimum wages!





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