Does Beijing hold key to energy security?

LONDON, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- How China responds to energy security with its booming economy will have dramatic consequences for the rest of the world, the IEA leader said in London.

Nobuo Tanaka, executive director of the International Energy Agency said Tuesday in London at the launch of the latest edition of the annual World Energy Outlook that economic strength and recovery were linked directly to energy markets.

"The energy world is facing unprecedented uncertainty," he said in his statement.

British Energy Secretary Chris Huhne told delegates at a bilateral economic summit in China that energy technology and climate change were areas where both countries could do more work.

He said that while the United Kingdom has the largest offshore wind capacity, "that record will not stand long" as Beijing aims to add 30 gigawatts of wind capacity to its grids by the end of the decade.

Tanaka said energy demand could rise by 36 percent by 2035. With China emerging as the largest energy consumer and boasting one of the most vibrant economies, Beijing has a fundamental role to play in energy security.

"How the country responds to the threats to global energy security and climate posed by rising fossil-fuel use will have far-reaching consequences for the rest of the world," he said.