Why do reports keep referring to soaring demand for food and energy in China and India as if that is new?

Question

Why do reports keep referring to soaring demand for food and energy in China and India as if that is new?

Answer 1

In short, because it IS relatively new.  It's only in the last decade or less that China's demand for energy has really taken off, and their demand for food has increased as the overall income level has increased.

Same deal in India.  There have always been a lot of people in China and India, but poverty kept their food and energy consumption low.  As incomes increase, they are eating more and using more energy, and THAT is recent.

See the graph below for a good illustration.