Coal’s share in the energy mix will likely decrease as the world shifts to lower-emission energy sources.

Wind and solar (included in Other renewables) are projected to see strong growth.This includes the IEA's assessment of the COVID-19 impact, both in its scenario based on stated policies, known as STEPS, as well as its Sustainable Development Scenario (SDS), which limits the rise in global average temperature to well below 2☌: For example, energy demand in countries that are further along the recovery path, such as China, has started to return to pre-COVID-19 levels.Īs society recovers and energy demand increases, the following trends are projected by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its latest publication of the World Energy Outlook. However, it is widely expected that demand will recover in the years ahead. Government responses to COVID-19, resulting in lockdowns and severe travel restrictions, significantly reduced energy demand in the short term. Efficiency gains and a shift in the energy mix – including rising penetration of lower-carbon sources – enable a nearly 45 percent improvement in the carbon intensity of global GDP. Given population growth and the linkage between energy use and living standards, energy demand is likely to rise over this same time period. Billions of people in developing economies are expected to see their incomes grow to levels considered middle class.

Access to modern technologies and abundant energy – including oil and natural gas – enables substantial gains in living standards around the world.īetween now and 2040, the world population is expected to grow from 7.5 billion to well over 9 billion, and global gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to nearly double.

World energy outlook 2015 download