Primary
energy consumption
AP-6
Air
Pollution
Pressure/Driving
force
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
Total
annual primary energy consumption is comprised by energy in the form of fossil
fuels, heat, electricity and biomass. The unit of measurement is Mtoe per year.
2 Placement
in the framework
5EAP:
Chapter
4: Selected target sectors, section 4.2: The energy sector.
Agenda
21:
Chapter
4: Changing consumption patterns; Chapter 9: Protection of the atmosphere,
section B: Promoting sustainable development, items 1: Energy development,
efficiency and consumption and 2: Transportation.
International
conventions and agreements:
Currently,
there are no conventions or agreements specifically referring to the regulation
and/or limitation of energy consumption. However, calls have been made for the
rational use of energy, fuel efficiency improvements and the switch to cleaner
forms of energy.
Ranking:
Core
ranking:
6
(28%)
Policy
Relevance:
8
(2.8)
Analytical
Soundness:
7
(2.9)
Responsiveness:
14
(2.4)
Most
appropriate related state indicator:
Concentration
levels of acidifying compounds into the atmosphere.
3 Significance
Purpose:
Total
annual energy consumption offers an indication of the overall pressure to the
atmosphere from the production of energy. This indicator is considered as one
of the main driving forces leading to pressures to the environment from energy
production, which is the major source for a number of pollutants annually
emitted into the atmosphere.
Relevance:
On
a global scale, energy production/transformation is primarily based on the use
of fossil fuels and to a lesser extent on renewable energy sources. Hence, an
increase in the demand of energy results in an equivalent increase in fossil
fuels and consequently in an increase in air pollutants released into the
atmosphere. Over the last few years, it has become apparent that it will be
virtually impossible to maintain the consumption of fossil fuels at current
rates because of their adverse environmental effects and the gradual depletion
of their reserves.
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
The
energy production sector is also responsible for the emissions of carbon
dioxide and therefore it can be related to both the Climate Change and Ozone
Depletion policy fields. In addition, the growing global energy needs add to
the demand on oil and coal reserves, the depletion of which is dealt with
indicators of the Resource Depletion policy field referring to extraction and
use of mineral resources.
Targets:
None.
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
In
principal, using energy production rather that energy consumption, as an
indicator, offers a better measure for the overall pressure applied to the
environment. On a global scale, total energy production, which is equivalent to
primary energy consumption (aside from some stock variations and statistical
errors) is in fact the primary source of the majority of emitted pollutants
into the atmosphere and the cause of a series of air pollution-related
problems. On a regional scale, however, the production of different types of
energy is associated with a greater or lesser significance for the occurrence
of regional environmental problems. Using energy production for oil and/or gas
producing countries, for example, it would seem that these countries have a
relatively high contribution to regional air pollution, despite that the
majority of the oil/gas produced could finally be exported (and consumed) in
other countries around the world. In contrast, the production of electricity
from the combustion of fossil fuels, irrespective of the amount finally
exported, does indeed have a major regional contribution because the local
release of air pollutants does affect their regional concentration levels.
Measurement
methods:
The
amount of energy consumed can be derived from the energy statistics published
by each country or various international or regional organisations (e.g.
International Energy Agency, EUROSTAT). The total primary energy consumption is
equal to production + imports - exports -international bunkers + stock change.
The amounts of all energy carriers such as fossil fuels, heat, electricity and
biomass must be considered.
Limitations
of the indicator:
The
indicator is a gross measure for the driving force/pressure applied and does
not allow for evaluating the impact of switching from non renewable to
renewable energy sources.
Alternative
definitions:
Units
of energy per inhabitant (Ktoe/capita).
