Energy: Global Supply & Management

Energy powers every aspect of modern life — from heating and lighting our homes to driving industry, transport, and communications. Yet energy resources are unevenly distributed, and the way we produce and consume energy has profound consequences for the environment. This lesson examines global energy supply patterns, the different sources of energy, and the strategies used to manage energy resources.

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Global Energy Supply and Demand

Patterns of Energy Consumption

Energy consumption varies enormously across the world:

Region	Energy Use	Key Reasons
North America	Very high per capita	Large homes, car-dependent cities, heavy industry
Europe	High (varies by country)	Industrial economies, high living standards
Middle East	High per capita (oil states)	Cheap domestic energy from oil and gas reserves
East Asia	Rising rapidly	Industrialisation in China, South Korea, Japan
South Asia	Low but rising	Large populations, rapid development
Sub-Saharan Africa	Very low	Limited infrastructure, widespread energy poverty

Energy Surplus and Deficit