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Why does North America use much more energy per person than the world average?

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Map of North America showing international boundaries, country names, and capital cities. The map includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Central American countries, and Caribbean nations, with a locator inset at the bottom left for global context. Major bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea are labeled.
North America

North America’s high per capita energy consumption is driven by a heavy reliance on fossil fuels and an extensive transportation infrastructure that prioritizes individual automobile use over public transit.12

Throughout the 20th century, oil and natural gas became the continent's primary energy sources, displacing coal. This energy-intensive model is reinforced by a vast network of transcontinental highways that facilitated the shift from railways to trucking for freight and from commuter trains to automobiles for personal travel. While the continent has invested in hydroelectric power and nuclear power, these sources provide a relatively modest share of the total energy budget compared to the consumption demands of its industrial and residential sectors.2134

Furthermore, while renewable sources like solar and wind power are expanding, they currently supply only a small fraction of the continent's total energy needs. The reliance on these energy-intensive systems has led to significant environmental challenges, including pollution and congestion, which remain critical issues across the region.31