Sustainable Growth in China: Spotlight on Energy

Rapid growth has created an enormous demand for energy The rapid pace of economic growth in China has raised concerns about the country’s large consumption of energy and the environmental impact. The transition from an agricultural- to an industrial-based economy has meant that growth is extremely energy-intensive. At the same time, industrialization raised working wages, helping spur the growth of the Chinese middle class as the population continued to urbanize; these demographic changes have created an additional boost in energy demand. Consequently, energy use increased by more than 150% during the past ten years and China became the world’s largest consumer of energy by 2010, surpassing the United States. The country’s energy demand is expected to continue on an upward trajectory. Access full Report.