Energy outlook 2040

Researchers at ExxonMobil forecast global energy demand at 30% higher than in 2010 due to a combination of factors such as increasing economic output, prosperity and population growth as well as maturing economies, and increasing efficiency, resulting in 60% demand growth within the non-OECD economies. Indian energy demand is forecast to more than double from 28 quadrillion BTUs in 2010 to 61 in 2040, about 9% of global demand.
In their annual energy outlook, "2012 The Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040", they state that electricity generation would account for more than 40% of global energy consumption while demand for coal would peak and then decline gradually and demand for natural gas would rise by more than 60% and unconventional sources of oil and natural gas such as shale formations would form an increasing share of global supply.
They also state that efficiency gains through technologies such as hybrid vehicles and new, high- efficiency natural gas power plants would temper demand growth and curb emissions. and also predict that energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions would grow slowly, then level off around 2030.

Analysis of world energy consumption

Analysts at British Petroleum state that global energy consumption in 2010 grew by 5.6% with the OECD growth at 3.5% and non-OECD growth at 7.5%, the highest rate since 1973 with total energy consumption surpassing the pre-recession peak reached in 2008.
In their 60th annual review of world energy, "BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2011", they state that oil at 34% continued as the world's leading fuel, followed by coal (30%), natural gas (24%),Hydel (6%), Nuclear (5%) and renewables (1%) although coal consumption grew by 7.6% and natural gas consumption grew by 7.4%.
India's energy consumption increased by 9.2% to 524 mil tonnes oil equivalent from 2009 on the back of a strong growth in coal consumption (11%) and natural gas (21%). Although nuclear energy grew 37%, it still constituted  1% of the energy mix.

Coming into age of the SCO

DAVID SPEEDIE, Director of U.S. Global Engagement Program at the Carnegie Council states that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that was established in 2001 could no longer be dismissed as a sub-regional force given its toehold in Central Asia and potential to exert influence over 20% of the world's proven oil reserves and 40% of natural gas resources. In a Carnegie Council article, "Good Neighbours? The Shanghai Co-operation Organization" he concedes that a potential inclusion of Iran in the SCO would result in the organization being seen as an anti-American alliance and echo NATO's eastward expansion in the 90s and calls for increasing NATO's engagement with the SCO.