Climate change - 50 grams of CO2 per dollar GDP as a goal for 2050

This article presents an analysis of the world-wide energy economy. The author quotes figures that show that, although the gross domestic product (GDP) has grown by 60% world-wide during the period 1990 to 2004, energy consumption has only increased by 34%, thus showing that energy efficiency is improving as a result of technological progress and a market that is calling for efficiency in the use of energy. An increase of energy-related emissions of CO2 is quoted at 30% for the same period, so that the increase in efficiency has been insufficient for the protection of the climate. Grams of CO2 per Dollar GDP are proposed as a measurement aid. The Swiss figure (2004: 185 g/$) is far away from the goal of reaching 50 g/$. Three sectors are proposed for further investigation concerning CO2 emissions: Comfort and process heat, fuels for mobility, and electricity. Data is presented in graphical and tabular form. Finally, world-wide scenarios for various factors for the years 2030 and 2050 are presented