GEF

Unit 6  |  Social Changes of Sustainable Development 133 For example, during the 1990s the average American used between fifty and 100 times more energy than the average citizen of Bangladesh, one of the world’s poorest nations. In recent decades, emerging economies are using significantly more energy. China is growing rapidly and improving living standards. According to the International Energy Agency (EIA), China doubled its total energy use between 2000 and 2009, surpassing the U.S. in annual energy use. As a leading emitter of CO 2 , China’s energy consumption continued to rise 3.9 percent in 2012, and despite some efforts to conserve, all indications are that it will continue rising over time. It is important to note that in response to a growing awareness of the effects of climate change, many countries have become committed to energy efficiency. In December of 2015, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change came up with the Paris Agreement , which is designed to help control greenhouse gas emissions. As of March 2017, 141 coun- tries had agreed to ratify the agreement, which would go into effect in the year 2020. While the world’s per capita consumption of energy increased mod- erately between 1965 and 2010, some countries, such as China, are showing dramatic increases. PARIS AGREEMENT An agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, intended to control greenhouse gas emissions beginning in the year 2020.