SLOWING GLOBAL WARMING AND SUSTAINING DEVELOPMENT - THE PROMISE OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Policy discussions concerning global warming have been based on the assumption that CO2 emissions from developing countries cannot be limited without slowing their economic growth. The promise of energy efficiency is clear. However, only a correct shift in development funding and investment to support energy efficiency would allow this promise to be fulfilled. This paper shows that such an assumption is wrong. In fact, these nations can limit fossil fuel use and CO2 emissions while at the same time expanding economic growth. The path to this is energy efficiency, which allows resources to be shifted from wasteful expenditure on energy to more productive sectors. The result is that less CO2 is emitted while Third World nations benefit from more rapid and sustainable economic growth. © 1990.