Introduction to Sustainable Energy and Environment

Abstract

All nations of the world envision having sustainable and equitable growth. The actualization of sustainable and equitable growth encompasses various securities including that of five key elements: livelihood, economy, energy, ecological balance, national defence and internal peace. Energy is the prime mover of all these securities and has now become the essential component of economic development and social transformation for all the developed and developing countries of the world. Simultaneously, the advances in human health care and local life support system have led to unprecedented reproductive success and growth of population. The world’s growth rate peaked in the 1960s at 2 % and a doubling time of 35 years (US Census Bureau. International data base, April 2005 version, 2005). The world’s current growth rate is about 1.3 % representing a doubling time of 54 years. Many Asian and African countries have relatively higher growth rates. Afghanistan has a current growth rate of 3.5 %, representing a doubling time of 20 years. According to a study by United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, one can expect the world’s population to become 11 billion by 2050. This has resulted in the growing need for energy. Owing to the population growth and economic progress, energy demand will increase from 17.7 terawatts in 2011 to 30–60 terawatts (450–900 million barrels of oil/day) in 2050. Approximately 75 % of this growth in energy demand will occur in Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. OECD is an international organization of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and global trade.