Global energy use

Abstract

The concept of sustainable energy transition has evolved over the last six decades. Conservationism was the concept under which sustainable energy development was first conceived in the 1960s, but after the two oil price shocks, conservationism evolved into sustainable energy transition. The world is in the midst of a sustainable energy transitional period during which a major shift from fossil fuels to renewables energy use will inevitably occur. This transition has two key components: increasing use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency. However, four major changes occurred in the world's energy system in recent decades: (1) the decline of the rate of growth of global energy demand because of energy crises, (2) trend reversal in energy substitution, (3) increasing demand in the developing, non-OECD world, and (4) China becoming the world's biggest energy consumer. These changes are expected to affect sustainable energy use during the ongoing energy transition. They clearly show us that the center of gravity in energy has shifted from developed world to developing world and that the new dynamics will certainly differ from those of the fossil fuel era. It is obvious that the ongoing energy transition will certainly be more difficult than previous ones. Governments and policy makers, which are known to play an important role in energy transitions, should mobilize private actors to take the initiative and people to actively participate in energy transition. Meanwhile, the best policy would be to continue to increase renewable energy use and energy efficiency. © The Author(s), 2023. All rights reserved.