If that all came to pass, oil and gas demand would most likely plateau at slightly above today’s levels for the next three decades, expanding in developing countries and shrinking in advanced economies.
“The transition to clean energy is happening worldwide and it’s unstoppable,” said Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency.
After Mr. Birol first suggested the possibility in September, the oil cartel OPEC warned that such forecasts were highly uncertain and could lead countries and companies to underinvest in oil and gas drilling.
If demand for fossil fuels did not fall as expected, the cartel said, the lack of supply could lead to “energy chaos.”OPEC issued its own outlook last year projecting that global demand for oil and natural gas would keep rising until 2045.
“I have a gentle suggestion to oil executives, they only talk among themselves,” Mr. Birol said in an interview.
Persons:
”, Fatih Birol, “ It’s, ’ it’s, ’ —, Birol, “, ” Mr, —
Organizations:
International Energy Agency, OPEC