Snoy, Bernard --- "The Energy Challenge: China, the EU and the Restructuring of Global Governance" [2012] ELECD 922; in Wouters, Jan; de Wilde, Tanguy; Defraigne, Pierre; Defraigne, Jean-Christophe (eds), "China, the European Union and Global Governance" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2012)

Book Title: China, the European Union and Global Governance

Editor(s): Wouters, Jan; de Wilde, Tanguy; Defraigne, Pierre; Defraigne, Jean-Christophe

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781004265

Section: Chapter 15

Section Title: The Energy Challenge: China, the EU and the Restructuring of Global Governance

Author(s): Snoy, Bernard

Number of pages: 10

Extract:

15. The energy challenge: China, the
EU and the restructuring of
global governance
Bernard Snoy

THE NATURE OF THE CHALLENGE

One of the most significant facts of today's global economy is the
emergence of China, together with India, as the new giants of the world
economy and the international energy markets. However, we are only
becoming aware of the alarming consequences for China, for the other
emerging countries and for the USA, the European Union (EU) and the
rest of the world that unfettered growth in global energy demand ­ a
growth that is expected to exceed 50 per cent between 2005 and 2030 ­
could have in terms of both energy security and environmental
sustainability. In terms of energy security, the key issues are depletion of
non-renewable resources and increased dependence on Middle Eastern
and Russian fossil-fuel sources. As concerns environmental security, the
main issue is climate change provoked by CO2 and other greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions. The key challenge therefore for all countries, including
the EU member states and China, is to put in motion a transition to a more
secure, lower-carbon energy system, without undermining economic and
social development.


CHINA'S PRIMARY ENERGY DEMAND AND RESOURCES

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA, 2007: 262):

[ . . . ] in less than a generation, China has moved from being a minor and largely
self-sufficient energy consumer to become the world's fastest growing energy
consumer and major player on the global energy market. Soaring energy use is
both ...