China overtakes USA as top global energy consumer

08.06.11

China overtook the USA as the world's largest energy consumer in 2010, according to the annual BP Statistical Review of World Energy, published today.

2010 also saw a rise in global consumption, at the highest rate since 1973. The figures also showed that carbon dioxide emissions rose at their fastest rate since 1969.

Bob Dudley, BP Chief Executive said:

"I was in China a couple of weeks ago and I came away with a very clear sense of how rigorously China is thinking about these issues. They want to maintain social cohesion and they want to make their growth more sustainable. In sum, they are worried about energy security and climate change, just as we are."

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