Description
Summary:The 2006 edition of the little green data book coincides with a wave of renewed attention to the energy sector coming out of the group of eight summit at Gleneagles, Scotland. While energy demand is rising along with gross domestic product (GDP) in the developing world, many poor countries still lack the basic infrastructure that sustains everyday needs. Electric power consumption per capita is 25 times lower in low-income countries than in high-income countries. The poorest people in the world depend heavily on natural resources to meet their energy needs. In Sub-Saharan Africa nearly 60 percent of the energy used comes from combustible renewables and waste. The little green data book is a step in this direction, with key indicators of the environment and its relationship to people for more than 200 countries. This year's edition includes recently updated data on carbon dioxide emissions and on particulate matter concentrations in urban areas, as well as the new global environment facility (GEF) benefits index for biodiversity.