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The Central Role of Energy in the Urban Transition: Global Challenges for Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Joseph R. Burger

    (Duke University Population Research Institute (DUPRI))

  • James H. Brown

    (University of New Mexico)

  • John W. Day

    (Louisiana State University)

  • Tatiana P. Flanagan

    (University of New Mexico
    Sandia National Laboratories)

  • Eric D. Roy

    (University of Vermont)

Abstract

The urban transition, the increased ratio of urban to rural population globally and within countries, is a hallmark of the twenty-first century. Our analysis of publicly available data from the World Bank spanning several decades for ~ 195 countries shows that across and within nations over time, per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP), energy use, and CO2 emissions are lowest in predominantly rural countries (rural > urban pop.), increase rapidly across urbanizing countries (rural ≈ urban pop.), and are highest in the most urban countries (rural

Suggested Citation

  • Joseph R. Burger & James H. Brown & John W. Day & Tatiana P. Flanagan & Eric D. Roy, 2019. "The Central Role of Energy in the Urban Transition: Global Challenges for Sustainability," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:bioerq:v:4:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s41247-019-0053-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s41247-019-0053-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Reiner Kümmel & Dietmar Lindenberger, 2020. "Energy in Growth Accounting and the Aggregation of Capital and Output," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, March.
    2. Ignacio Mauleón, 2021. "Aggregated World Energy Demand Projections: Statistical Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-13, July.

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