The United States and China may have to strike a bilateral agreement on climate change ahead of the United Nations summit in Copenhagen in December in order to achieve a broader international agreement, according to a University of Wyoming professor.

Jean Garrison, director of the university's international studies program, said China continues with its argument that developed nations built their economies by burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases. If the world wants China to expand its middle class with cleaner energy, then developed nations should help subsidize it.

"The only way we're going to have an international agreement is if the U.S. and China have a bilateral agreement first," said Garrison.

Garrison spoke at the "Global Competition for Energy: Wyoming and the World," symposium Friday at Casper College. The symposium series continues at 4 p.m. Monday in Cody at the Park County Library.

Garrison said the U.S. and China continue to negotiate on energy and climate issues on many levels, mindful that although China has surpassed the U.S. in carbon emissions it uses far less energy per-capita than the U.S. and other developed nations.

Just 5 percent of the world's population consumes 25 percent of the world's energy. Garrison noted that approximately 20 percent of China's carbon emissions come from manufacturing that was outsourced by the U.S. and other developed nations.

Yet the Chinese themselves are very much fractured on the issue of building their economy with heavy carbon emissions versus environmental conservation.

"The rising middle class wants a cleaner environment, so leaders are getting pressure," said Garrison. "It's an open question about whether this (world) energy situation leads to conflict or something that can be managed."

As the U.S. negotiates with nations on energy and climate issues, it's important to remember that Wyoming is the single largest energy driver in the U.S., said Rob Hurless, energy and telecommunications advisor to Gov. Dave Freudenthal.

While some states -- Texas, for example -- produce more energy than Wyoming, they also consume a lot of energy, making Wyoming the largest net energy exporter in the nation.

Hurless said Wyoming accounts for approximately 15 percent of the nation's domestic energy supply, tapping vast amounts of coal, natural gas, oil and uranium.

"We have an amazing energy portfolio," said Hurless. "Whether we want to or not we're in the energy business and we're very important to this country."

Hurless and Garrison both agreed that Wyoming coal, oil and gas will remain a large part of the nation's energy portfolio, as will fossil fuels in other nations.

Driven by an expanding middle class across the globe, world energy demand is projected to grow 55 percent by 2030, with coal accounting for 28 percent of the world's energy portfolio.

In the U.S., total energy demand is projected to increase by 24 percent with coal increasing its market share from 23 percent to 26 percent of the energy mix.

"Coal is the fastest growing fuel source on the planet," said Hurless. "The reality is that fossil fuels are going to be around for a long time."

Contact energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer at 307-577-6069 or dustin.bleizeffer@trib.com. Read his energy blog at tribtown.trib.com/DustinBleizeffer/blog