Book

World Energy Outlook 1998

Release Date: March 1, 1999

This World Energy Outlook, the first since the Kyoto agreement on climate change, is based on a new methodology and a new world energy model. It analyzes the major issues and uncertainties of the global energy scene from now through the year 2020. In this period, the Outlook projects world energy demand to grow by 65 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent–unless governments impose strict policies to restrain them.

The Outlook examines the emissions-cutting commitments made at Kyoto and points out that they will be impossible to meet if governments continue to treat energy as “business as usual.” A whole new policy-mix–including regulations, flexible market mechanisms, and the encouragement of less polluting sources–will be required to meet the Kyoto targets.

The book provides a summary and presents details concerning the outlook for power generation, oil, gas, coal, and biomass. Color graphics and forecast tables show prospects to 2020 for such variables as electricity generation capacity and fuel consumption, investment in new plants, prospective hydropower and nuclear generating capacity, oil demand by sector, oil reserves, unconventional oil supplies, natural gas consumption by region, gas reserves, coal consumption, and much more. The book provides detailed energy outlooks for OECD Europe, OECD North America, OECD Pacific, Transition Economies, China, East Asia, South Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East. Over 50 pages of tables provide more detailed projections for energy balances and CO2 emissions by region. An annex provides information on definitions and conversion factors.

Includes color graphs and charts

Authors