Need for Global Energy Security

Aug 22, 2014 | World Policy
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The development of a sustainable, long-term solution to meeting the world’s energy needs is one of the defining issues of our time. The risks of getting our energy policies wrong are considerable and the consequences large, as numerous conflicts have occurred as a result of competition for resources. If we don’t do something significant to facilitate greater cooperation regarding energy, future conflicts are inevitable. Energy security can briefly be defined as “adequate, affordable and reliable supplies.” As climate security and energy security are inextricably linked, I would hasten to add that there is no energy security without climate security. Indeed, cost-effective mitigation and adaptation strategies– namely, tackling the causes and effects of climate change – must be at the heart of energy policy.