Energy demand and materials flows in the economy

Abstract

Many forecasts show industrial energy use growing rapidly in industrial countries. These forecasts do not adequately take into account the diminishing importance of basic materials use in the economies of mature industrial societies, the emerging shift of production based on virgin materials to developing and resource-rich countries, and the increased recycling of materials. Since the processing of materials dominates industrial energy demand, this pattern of development will upset those forecasts. While energy use by industry will grow in such countries as China, Saudi Arabia, Korea, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Australia, it will continue to decline or stagnate in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.