[os2warpman]

Who is "they"?

In the EU, total energy consumption peaked ~20 years ago and has steadily fallen since then.

In the US, total energy consumption plateaued ~20 years ago. Per-capita it has fallen.

In Japan total energy consumption peaked, you guessed it, ~20 years ago.

I assert that for India and China as their per-capita consumption reaches a level somewhere between that of the US and EU, total energy consumption will plateau. China is almost there; India has some time yet to go.

[nsksl]

So civilisations that are in decline had a peak of energy consumption a couple of decades ago? Whilst civilisations that are progressing keep using more energy? Are you sure this helps your argument?