Figure 5-6: The response of
the energy system, as indicated by the emission of CO2 (expressed as
carbon), to economic changes, indicated by GDP (expressed in Purchasing Power
Parity (PPP) terms). The response can be almost without inertia if the shock
is large. The "oil crisis" -- during which energy prices rose substantially
over a short period of time -- led to an almost immediate and sustained divergence
of the formerly closely linked emissions and GDP in most developed countries:
Japan and United States are shown as examples. At the breakup of the Former Soviet
Union, the two indicators remained closely linked, leading the emission to drop
rapidly in tandem with declining GDP.
