I have posted myself on the subject in other threads over the past year or so.
Follow this (from memory so cut me some slack on the figures):
1. 1.3 bill chinese
2. 0.4 bill nth americans
3. per capita, the chinese currently consume 1/10 th of the energy consumed by nth americans
4. If over the next 20 yrs the affluence just 50% of chinese increases to the point where they consume say half the energy of nth americans, china will be consuming about as much energy as the nth americans.
5. That represents a 250-300% increase on what the chinese are currently consuming.
That has to be an issue rushing headlong into peak oil and carbon emmission constraints (affecting coal).
Cheers Dex
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