Ever since the industrial revolution took place centuries ago, we have shifted much of the basis of our energy focus on the production, usage, distribution, and development on fossil fuels. Many consumers and businesses are constantly looking for more efficient ways of powering their industry – with some turning to companies such as the Energy Plus Company. Though it has proved an effective strategy in the past, consumers and businesses alike have become increasingly aware of this market’s unsure future. Many are worried that as countries are reaching an unprecedented level of development, the demands on the world’s natural resources will reach an unsustainable level. This incremental march towards increased usage is fast becoming the issue of our time, as demand will soon surpass supply by at a staggering level.
Long has America been the leading consumer of resources among the world’s developed nations, but there’s a new player on the field. Though it’s not news that China’s economic strength is growing, its demand for energy has become a top concern. We’ve seen oil and gas prices reach peak levels and this is largely to do with a dwindling supply and increased demand. This is the basis of all economics, but its effects reach far beyond the simple supply and demand based business model. This is one of the reasons that countries around the world are redoubling their efforts to find viable energy alternatives. In the very near future, there simply won’t be enough to go around.
For centuries, developed nations have relied on the relatively cheep energy from poorer countries. Nations in Africa and Asia have long been the energy basket for the world. Many of our systems ran on these resources while the energy’s country of origin relied on a far more crude method heating, cooling, and transportation. This is no longer the case. Countries in the West simply don’t have the resources to sustain their appetite and the BRIC nations are likely to surpass the NATO countries in economic power, level of resources, and land. BRIC is a relatively new term that has been attributed to four countries in particular: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. All of these countries have huge populations, vast landmasses, and an abundance of resources. It’s very likely that these countries will become the future movers and shakers of the energy world if the NATO countries don’t take stronger action to develop better energy programs.
The West is losing investors in droves as energy-consulting agencies shift the focus of their businesses to China and other countries. This is mainly due to the fact that China will only increase its appetite for energy on a global scale. This has investors excited and governments worried as China incrementally increases its global profile. China already has a daily demand for oil that’s incredible and this consumption and demand is projected to triple by 2035 to a estimated 13 million barrels a day. China will become the leading consumer of energy and its per capita carbon dioxide emissions are expected to raise by 41 percent in the same period of time.
Not everyone is worried about China’s increasing role because many investors feel that it will be China that will become the leader in the development and implementation in the field of alternative energy. Though the country hasn’t solidified its role as leader in this front, the International Energy Agency believes that China will be at the epicenter of huge strides to change the face of energy in the coming century. The possibilities are endless, as China remains committed to shaping the future of energy. Yet, not everyone is so excited by this prospect.
Western countries are looking across the world with their eyes fixed on developing countries with a quiet nervousness. As BRIC nations increase their global role, the West feels its grip on the global economy and world influence loosening. This is one reason why countries like America are currently trying to find new ways to become the top leader in the world of innovation and energy. This has become a matter far beyond the level of bragging rights but more in the vein of self-preservation. This issue is likely to find a marriage between many countries energy and national security policies as the two become inseparable on a global fight for energy supremacy. This will spark a new cold war over energy interests as every country competes to become the leader in the future of development.
John McCain, a United States Senator, has been very outspoken about, what he sees as a crucial issue in the coming decades. Senator McCain told CNN that the issue of energy has become far more than a power problem and one that threatens the very survival of nations around the globe. “Reducing the nation’s dependency on foreign oil” it’s not a new term. In fact, it’s been thrown around with increasing frequency. McCain stated that coming up with new forms of clean energy is “a national security issue when we’re dependent on more than $400 billion a year in imported oil from countries that don’t like us very much.”
It’s this same idea that has driven America’s approach to energy development, an area that it has been sorely lacking. Investors all over America are putting their money into the development of alternative energies at a time when the American government can barely pay its own bills. Any future innovation will likely come from the private sector and energy and tech stocks are going to be the most lucrative investments in the coming years. No one knows how it will play out but the best and brightest are tirelessly looking for new ways for us to reinvent the wheel. Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear and that’s that energy is the future of the world economy.