Energy Intensity Closely Related to Per Capita GDP

This graph shows the relationship between energy use and prosperity as measured by per capital GDP. Energy intensity is measured on the vertical axis and per capita GDP is measured on the horizontal axis. The size of the bubbles measure population. There is a strong positive relationship between energy use per person and GDP per capita. The US and OECD economies have the highest per capita GDP and their per capita consumption of energy is also very high. The link between prosperity and energy intensity makes it very difficult to deal with climate issues. China and India with their large populations are low on energy intensity but it is bound to increase as GDP, and therefore, per capita GDP increases at twice the rate of the US and OECD countries.