Other reports in this collection 3.4.2. Energy Use and Emissions by Major Sectors 3.4.2.1.
Trends reveal striking differences between sectors and regions of the world.
These factors are in turn driven by changes in consumer preferences, energy and technology costs, settlement and infrastructure patterns, technical progress, and overall economic conditions. Energy intensity is the amount of energy used to perform a particular service, such as to produce a ton of steel, power a refrigerator, or propel a vehicle. Technical progress generally leads to improved energy efficiency in technologies such as lights, vehicles, refrigerators, and manufacturing processes. Carbon emissions that result from energy use depend on the carbon intensity of the energy source. Changes in carbon intensity mainly result from fuel substitution, but can also arise from changes in technology or process.