Measuring the energy intensity of nations: Towards a framework for transparent comparisons

About the Workshop:

In September 2013, KAPSARC hosted a workshop in London to explore whether it was feasible and reasonable to gain a better understanding of national energy intensity by measuring the embodied energy in goods traded across national borders. If so, this information could provide decision-makers with a more transparent picture of a nation’s energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions.

In order to make meaningful comparisons of indicators between countries, the need to take into account specific national economic circumstances was highlighted. Important factors include: the path of historical economic development, industrial specialization, natural resource endowments, demographic change, cultural norms, energy prices, urbanisation, geography, and climate. As a significant part of the profile of a country’s energy intensity is embodied in its imports and exports of goods, the effect of moving towards metrics that normalise for the embodied energy and carbon in trade was also discussed.