Abstract
A global energy consumption reduction is essential to address the many dimensions of the current ecological crisis. In this paper we have compiled the reasons that justify the necessity to start this energy descent process in the countries of the global North, where the annual per capita final energy consumption was 118 GJ in 2017. Based on recent research, we approach the necessary redistribution of energy consumption at the global level and the elements that should be present in energy descent strategies. We establish an approximate threshold of minimum and maximum per capita final energy consumption, between 15.6 GJ and 31.0 GJ for the year 2050, which serves as a reference for evaluating scenarios. We continue with an analysis of two ecological transition scenarios for Spain between 2020 and 2030, Green New Deal and Degrowth. Based on a schematic calculation model defined in “Labor Scenarios in the Ecosocial Transition 2020–2030” report, we evaluate the variations in energy consumption for 86 sectors of economic activity. Results show an annual final energy consumption per capita in 2030 of 44.6 GJ and 36.8 GJ for each scenario. We conclude by analyzing the hypothetical main drivers of this sharp decline in energy consumption.
Highlights
As global warming and ecological degradation accentuate their impacts, the ecological and energy transition is gaining momentum
2020 and 2030 according to the transformations defined for the Green New Deal Scenario (GND) scenario
In the first part of the paper, we have studied the m socio-technical transitions will be necessary to move away from dependencies and inertias tude that the energy descentsocial would have reach in thereduced coming decades an that block theglobal possibility of satisfying needs and to desires through energy consumption
Summary
As global warming and ecological degradation accentuate their impacts, the ecological and energy transition is gaining momentum. Public policies are focused on achieving fast decarbonization of the economy. This trend is speeding simultaneously as the historical record of 415 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere is surpassed [1]. There are several reasons to be cautious and to point out the limitations of a strategy focused solely on “greening” energy production, without acting simultaneously on energy demand, may encounter [5]. Strategies focused exclusively on the energy–climate dimension often hide many other elements that need to be taken into account to achieve a transition that does not worsen ecological degradation, such as biodiversity loss [6]. Global energy descent appears as a requirement to reduce these risks and increase the feasibility of carrying out an ecological and energy transition within biophysical limits
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