1/ Physicists use the term energy to describe an ability to modify a state or to produce work that causes movement or generates electromagnetic radiation (for example, light) or heat. Energy is needed, among other things, for our heating and electricity.

Resources include everything that is used to produce this energy as well as everything that is used and extracted from nature (water, minerals...).

2/ Energy-related activities account for around 73% of global greenhouse gas emissions, 80% of energy comes from fossil fuels. In the European Union, 24.5% of energy comes from renewable sources and “nuclear power plants generated around 22.8% of the total electricity produced in the EU.”

3/ In order to reduce our global carbon footprint and combat global warming, it is necessary to reduce the share of fossil fuels, which are derived from limited resources and emit greenhouse gases. Even if renewable energies are less emitting, they require the extraction of minerals (including some rare earths) for their production. Fresh water is a valuable resource for many areas, but its scarcity at both local and global scales tends to generate conflict. Around the world, between 2 and 3 billion people regularly experience freshwater shortages.

4/ Beyond a transition to more sustainable energy production, it is essential to reduce the consumption of energy and resources. The challenges in this category are there to encourage more economy and sobriety.