Energy Efficiency, Human Activities and Climate Change

Abstract

Energy is important again, not because there is too little, but because of the threat that there is too much. Local and global environmental problems associated with energy use have increased their magnitude and threaten to grow even more as energy prices stabilize and demand grows even more. Of particular importance is the rise in CO₂ emissions from the use of fossil fuels that dominate energy use. How much will it cost to restrain their growth or even reduce them? Nothing at all, say optimists; too much, say pessimists.