3. Oil, natural gas and coal: dependence

For just over a century, the world has grown by harnessing cheap, concentrated energy resources: fossil fuels. The Industrial Revolution began with coal, and continued with oil and gas. Coal and the steam engine enabled the development of industry and railroads in the early nineteenth century, giving England economic supremacy at the time. It wasn't until the beginning of the twentieth century that fossil fuels overtook renewable energies in proportion. With cheap and abundant energy, man was able to devote all his energies to developing fields that have had a major impact on the living conditions of the world's population.

When it comes to energy, today's world relies heavily on fossil fuels. This is illustrated by figure 4...