Energy Indicators for Sustainable Development: Guidelines and Methodologies International Atomic Energy Agency United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs International Energy Agency Eurostat European Environment Agency

Units 
Energy: tonnes of oil equivalent (toe) per US dollar 
Electricity: kilowatt-hours (kWh) per US dollar 
Alternative Definitions 
Sectoral energy intensities 
Agenda 21 
Chapter 4: Consumption and production patterns 
POLICY RELEVANCE 
(a) Purpose: This indicator reflects the trends in overall energy use relative to GDP, 
indicating the general relationship of energy use to economic development. 
(b) Relevance to Sustainable Development: Energy is essential for economic and 
social development. However, energy use affects resource availability and the 
environment. In particular, fossil fuel use is a major cause of air pollution and climate 
change. Improving energy efficiency and decoupling economic development from 
energy use are important sustainable development objectives. 
(c) 
International Conventions and Agreements: Currently, there are no 
conventions or agreements that specifically refer to the regulation and/or limitation of 
energy use per unit of GDP. However, Agenda 21 calls for considering how 
economies can grow and prosper while reducing their use of energy and materials. 
Also, it encourages the reduction of the amount of energy and materials used per unit 
of goods/services produced. The Johannesburg Plan of Implementation that was 
agreed at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development also calls for 

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enhanced energy efficiency and greater use of advanced energy technologies. At the 
regional level, calls have been made for the prudent and rational utilization of natural 
resources (Article 174 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community — Nice, 
2001), improved energy efficiency (The Energy Charter Protocol on Energy 
Efficiency and Related Environmental Aspects — Lisbon, 1994) and a switch to 
cleaner forms of energy.