This report has covered a great deal of ground, and there are a number of apparently disparate points that should be brought together in this section: There are still major uncertainties surrounding global warming science, but the body of evidence supporting anthropomorphic warming of the planet is growing stronger. Global CO_2 and overall GHG levels are rising at an accelerating rate over time. The body of information and evidence assembled to date has been sufficient to make governmental responses to global warming a political necessity. regardless of the science. Global Developments and Trends: The primary cause of global GHG increases is the combustion of fossil fuels. The total inventory of global carbon-based fuel reserves is sufficient to last well into the next century at current levels of demand, especially with the addition of unconventional liquids. US energy demands are similar to Europe - about 100 quads per year for each, and both are expected to increase energy consumption by about 20% by 2030. The developing nations are expected to expand energy use by 50% in the same period, passing the aggregate energy consumption of the developed nations in the process. There is a strong linkage between energy availability and wealth/quality of life, and the developing nations need much more energy in order to support their plans for economic growth. Conventional oil reserves are approaching peak supply levels, while gas and coal still can support expanding demand for some time. The inventory of carbon fuels is static, however, and accelerating rates of global use will consume those reserves in a relatively short period of time. Developed nations (non-US) are embracing renewable and nuclear sources of energy, primarily through the electrical grid, but they are still heavily dependent on carbon fuels and will be for the foreseeable future. Developed nations (non-US) are moving to reduce GHG emissions through a host of technology, tax, incentive and regulatory mechanisms. Over the next 20 years, the most likely outcome of those efforts will be a reduction in the growth of emissions by the developed nations.
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