The trend is worrying because the global drop in energy intensity — how much energy is required to produce a unit of economic activity — is the driving force behind the recent flattening of greenhouse gas emissions around the world, Birol notes. Global energy intensity fell by 1.8 percent in 2016, putting the average annual decline since 2010 at 2.1 percent.
The gains have also lowered household expenditures and increased individual nations’ energy security by reducing their reliance on foreign fuel imports, according to IEA.
To be sure, the picture has improved significantly since the turn of the century. If it weren’t for the energy efficiency gains made since 2000, the world would have used 12 percent more energy in 2016. That would have equated to adding another European Union to the globe, IEA said.
But despite that progress, there are still no policies in place to mandate energy efficiency targets for nearly 70 percent of the energy the world consumes today.
Appliances, equipment and economic activity covered by energy efficiency standards grew by 1.4 percent last year, but nearly all of the gains were due to consumers replacing old products with new ones that meet existing performance standards. That is in stark contrast to previous years, IEA said.
