The pie charts compare the units of electricity generated from five different fuel sources in Australia and France in 1980 and 2000.
Overall, total electricity production increased substantially in both countries over the period. Australia continued to rely mainly on coal, whereas France experienced a dramatic shift towards nuclear power, which became the dominant source by 2000.
In Australia, electricity generation rose from 100 units in 1980 to 170 units in 2000. Coal was the primary source in both years and increased considerably over time. Natural gas and hydro power contributed moderate amounts in 1980 but declined in relative importance by 2000. By contrast, oil remained a minor source throughout the period, accounting for only a small proportion of total production.
In France, total electricity output doubled from 90 to 180 units. In 1980, production was fairly evenly distributed among coal, oil and natural gas, with nuclear power playing a relatively small role. However, by 2000, nuclear energy dominated electricity generation, accounting for the vast majority of production, while the contributions of coal, oil, gas and hydro power fell to minimal levels.