Climate Change and Energy Economics: Key Indicators and the Energy Roadmap for 2050

With this article, WIFO presents an update of its key indicators of the development of greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and economic performance, employing the latest available emissions data of 2010. Indicators thus mirror the development of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions after the economic downturn of 2008-09. Following a decline of emissions by 8.3 percent in 2009, greenhouse gas emissions rose sharply again in 2010, by 6.1 percent due to the economic recovery as much as weather conditions: whereas GDP grew by 2.3 percent, heating days rose by 13.3 percent overall or 8.8 percent in the winter period. Hence, emission efficiency declined. Primary energy consumption rose by 6.1 percent to 1,422 PJ while the use of renewable energy sources grew by 3.2 percent (2009 +3.3 percent). This edition of indicators is complemented by a focal point dealing with the EU Energy Roadmap for 2050 and the long-term perspective of emissions mitigation.