Energy and New Development Patterns

Abstract

During the twentieth century, humanity expanded its activities through the application of science and technology. The results are visible through the rapid increase of the global population and the achievement of higher standards of living in industrialized countries. As lifestyles based on mass production and mass consumption become the norm in these countries, the mass consumption of resources and energy has also become chronic. The effects of these trends have not been limited only to those countries; they have also had significant effects upon developing countries. The global population has come to rely on energy in abundance. The need for a large energy supply in turn has made us depend heavily on fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide. The risk of global warming caused by the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has therefore become a hot issue of debate.