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Increasing global production and consumption of energy

Exam code: 2217
Written by: Ashika|Reviewed by: Caroline Carroll|Updated 2 July 2026

Specification link

This page covers section 10.5.1 of the CIE O Level specification.

  • 10.5.1 - Reasons for the increasing global production and consumption of energy.

Reasons for increasing global energy production

Reasons for increasing global energy production

  • Energy sources are not evenly distributed across the world

  • Some areas produce very little energy due to a lack of natural resources or because they do not have the money to exploit the resources

  • The main producers of fossil fuels for primary energy are:

    • USA

    • Canada

    • Norway

    • Russia

    • Australia

    • Middle East

World map showing distribution of energy resources (coal, natural gas, petroleum, uranium)
Global distribution of fossil fuels and nuclear fuel
  • The world's largest producers are often the largest consumers of energy

  • Countries are investing more to try and achieve energy security

  • Energy production is growing due to the increased demand for energy

Reasons for increasing global energy consumption

Reasons for increasing global energy consumption

Increasing energy demand

  • Global energy demand is rising rapidly

Graph showing global energy consumption from 1800 to 2021 by source, with a steep rise in recent years. Includes fossil fuels, nuclear, and renewables.
Graph showing world energy demand by source.

Reasons for increasing energy consumption

  • Population growth and development are the key drivers of increased energy consumption because of:

    • Food production:

      • The higher demand for food leads to more intensive farming, which needs more energy for machines, light and heat

    • Industrial growth:

      • Factories need energy for operations, heating, and lighting

    • Transportation:

      • Increased movement relies on petrol, diesel, and electricity

    • Urbanisation:

      • Increasing urban population use domestic appliances, heating, and lighting

    • Economic development:

      • Rising wealth leads to people buying more appliances and technology that need energy

Increasing global production and consumption of energy · Revision Notes · Geography · StudyDeck