Electricity
consumption
AP-10
Air
Pollution
Driving
force/Pressure
1 Indicator
definition and unit of measurement
Total
annual amount of electricity consumed by all economic/societal activities. The
unit of measurement is GWh/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, item 1: Energy development,
efficiency and consumption.
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:
10
(19%)
Policy
Relevance:
14
(2.7)
Analytical
Soundness:
12
(2.7)
Responsiveness:
15
(2.4)
Most
appropriate related state indicator:
Exceedance
of concentration levels of various pollutants (SO
2,
NO
x)
into the atmosphere.
3 Significance
Purpose:
The
electricity sector is considered as one of the major pressures to the
environment ,since it is the most polluting energy-related activity. This
indicator can be used to monitor electricity consumption patterns.
Relevance:
Currently,
the majority of the electricity consumed, on a global scale, comes primarily
from the combustion of fossil fuels and to a lesser extend from renewable
energy sources. It is evident, therefore, that an increase in electricity
demand will directly increase the use of non renewable resources.
Linkages
to other pressure indicators:
The
indicator can be related to RD-5 from the Resource Depletion policy field,
which deals with the electricity production from fossil fuels.
Targets:
None.
4 Methodological
description and underlying definitions
Underlying
definitions and concepts:
Electricity
consumption can be better described as a driving force rather than a pressure
itself. Energy consumption is directly related to the production of
electricity, which has long been identified as one the major source of air
pollutants (e.g. SO
2,
CO, NOx) into the atmosphere. The total electricity use can reflect the results
of energy savings and improved fuel efficiency standards.
Measurement
methods:
Statistical
data on the total electricity consumption are widely available either through
local authorities or from various international organisations (e.g.
International Energy Agency, EUROSTAT).
Limitations
of the indicator:
The
indicator does not allow for depicting the impact of policy on the switching
from non renewable to renewable energy sources.
Alternative
definitions:
Use
of electricity per inhabitant (GWh/capita).
