Energy Demand from our Society, CO2 Emission and Climate Change: The Big Challenges we need to win
Michele Aresta

Abstract
World population is expected to grow from actual 7 Billion people to close to 10 Billion people by 2030. The growth of population coupled to the wished increase of the standard of life, that calls for an growth of the energy consumption per person, in a Business as Usual-BaU trend will cause the increase of the emission of CO2 from actual 32 Gt/y to over 45 Gt/y, with an increase of the accumulation of Greenhouse Gases-GHG in the atmosphere and consequent major impact on climate. CO2 is considered the protagonist of such climate change-CC, but indeed the most abundant Greenhouse Gas-GHG is water vapor. This paper analyzes the future energy trend and changes necessary for reducing the impact on climate, for avoiding that non-return points are reached. Recycling of carbon is expected to play a key role, implementing the concept of Circular Economy.

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