22 April 2009: The World Bank’s World Development Indicators 2009, released during the Bretton Woods Institutions Spring Meetings, includes an environment section that reviews evidence on energy use, climate change and the prospects for cleaner energy.

The report notes energy use has doubled since 1971. High-income economies use almost half of global energy, but energy use is growing more rapidly in developing economies. Of the world’s six largest energy consumers, three are middle-income economies: Russia, China and India. Along with the United States, Japan and Germany, these countries are also the largest emitters of carbon dioxide. [World Bank press release]