Teribus: 'And it does not necessarily follow that, "If energy consumption has gone up by 45%, Co2 production will have gone up nearly as much."'

Not NECESSARILY, but:
In the last 1/3 century there has been no significant change in the efficiency of heat engines generating energy (and unless there's a change in the laws of thermodynamics there won't be one in the future). So a 45% increase in fossil fuel generated energy would give pro rata a 45% increase in CO2 emissions. I said "nearly as much" to cover changes in the balance of fossil-fuel to non-emission energy sources. Since the US hasn't exactly led the world in replacing fossil-fuel with renewables, and I haven't spotted a major increase in nuclear generation since 3-Mile Island, I don't think the balance has moved much in that 1/3 century.

I stand by my original comment

nick