China Tops U.S. as World’s Largest Energy Consumer

 

A new report says that China is now the world’s biggest energy user—knocking the United States from a position it has probably held since the early 1900s.

China moved to top position in 2010 with 20.3 percent of global usage, according to the report authored by oil company BP. The U.S. came in second at 19 percent. Russia was a distant third at 5.5 percent.

Total energy use includes energy derived from oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear and renewable energy.

China’s energy usage grew by 11.2 percent during 2010. America’s usage grew by 3.7 percent.

The findings show a major flaw in America’s push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by limiting carbon emissions in America. Carbon tax laws put American companies at a competitive disadvantage with companies overseas. And when the cost of business rises too much, they just relocate to other more friendly environments overseas. Many energy-intensive businesses have already relocated elsewhere. China is now by far the largest user of coal-powered electricity, which is the most inexpensive form of energy generation. It has so many coal-fired power plants that it consumes a whopping 48 percent of global coal production.

The findings also show just how fast China is becoming an economic superpower. One decade ago, China was nowhere near America, in terms of energy usage. But over the past decade, China has become a manufacturing powerhouse.

Yet as fast as China is industrializing, it is still far behind America in terms of oil consumption. America consumes 21 percent of global oil production, while China consumes 10.6 percent. However, if trends continue, and China’s 1 billion-plus population keeps “Americanizing,” it will not be long before China is the world’s largest oil user too.

For a biblical perspective of what the rise of China means for the world, read He Was Right.