不能也不應該忽視化石燃料使用量的增長沒有放緩的跡象。在幾個方面，煤炭正引領著這一潮流。這種增長大部分來自發(fā)展中國家，而且將繼續(xù)來自發(fā)展中國家。在大多數(shù)發(fā)展中國家，許多發(fā)電廠已經(jīng)運行了不到十年，預計在未來很長一段時間內(nèi)還會繼續(xù)運行。此外，要求許多國家（不論是否發(fā)展中國家）放棄國內(nèi)可獲得的、安全的燃料來源也是一項艱巨的任務。盡管如此，全球都在感受到實現(xiàn)增長目標/供應能源與解決重大環(huán)境和健康問題之間的緊張關系。

I t cannot and should not be ignored that the growth in fossil fuel usage has shown no signs of slowing. In several respects, coal is leading this charge. Most of this growth has come, and will continue to come, from developing countries. In most developing countries many power plants have been operating for less than a decade and are expected to continue to operate long into the future. In addition, it is a tall order to ask many countries (developing or not) to abandon a domestically available, secure source of fuel. Still, the tension between meeting growth goals/ supplying energy and addressing major environmental and health issues is being felt globally.