Energy Tops List of Global Challenges

While studying at the California Institute of Nanotechnology under Dr. William Kao, once a professor at UCLA and employee of both Xerox and Cadence, I was presented with a list of the top ten challenges facing humanity in the coming decades. To my surprise, energy was the number one challenge followed closely by water. A bit lower was terrorism and war. Considering the change in focus (from war to energy) that the current Obama administration has set out, I feel optimistic that we can rise to the challenge that energy presents. Unfortunately I am unable to cite this list and may have to defer to Dr Kao directly.

Humanity's top ten problems for the next 50 years:

1. Energy - the largest projected source of clean energy in the next 50 years is geothermal. In the USA more than 90% of energy used comes from fossil fuels with less than 8% from renewable resources. If world energy consumption continues to grow at 2.8% consumption of energy will double from 336 trillion BTU's to 672 BTU's in 25 years. 66% of the world's fossil fuels are located in the middle east. Following is an estimate of fossil fuel use and depletion: Gas fuels ie. propane will be depleted in 60 years. Petrol fuels such as oil will be depleated in 40 years. Coal will be depleated in 200 years but is the most harmful fuel on our environment and will definitely increase global warming.
2. Water
3. Food
4. Environment - so far the Earth's temperature has risen one degree as a result of increased greenhouse gasses. As polar ice caps melt and ocean levels rise a one foot vertical increase is the equivalent of ten horizontal feet of reclaimed land (due to tides and storms).
5. Poverty
6. Terrorism and War
7. Disease
8. Education
9. Democracy
10. Population

Population data and trends projected to 2050:

• 2003 World Population 6.3 Billion People
• 2009 World Population Estimated at 6.8 Billion
• 2050 World Population 9.5 Billion People