Approximately 12 % of the world’s energy supply comes from renewable energy sources (biomass, waste and other renewables, excluding hydropower). The average renewable share in Latin America is higher than the world average,. But even if the energy supply from renewables will increase in Latin America, the percentage share of renewables of total energy supply is projected to decrease in the years to come. (World Energy Outlook 2004).
Latin America has 10% - 12% of the world’s petroleum reserves, close to 6% of the gas reserves and 1.6% of the coal reserves. The per capita consumption of energy in 2000 was 20% below the world average.
(UNEP/ROLAC and Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico: Climate Change in the Latin America and Caribbean;
WRI: Earth Trends, Energy and resources, Haiti )