The Case of Energy

Reflection Questions

On average, every $1000 of total production in the economy is associated with an increase of about how much total energy usage on average (as expressed in tons of oil equivalent)? What are the environmental implications of this given the anticipated growth in economic output globally?

Approximately what percentage of CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels is sequestered by natural sinks (such as trees and the ocean)? What happens to the remaining CO2 emissions?

What important climate change metric do all of the above allow us to model? What was this measurement in 2013 and how does it compare to the geologic history of the earth?

Broadly speaking, what is Sachs view of fossil fuels, both historically and currently? Is it favorable or not, and why?