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Chapter 5 - Energy and Security
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- By Aleh Cherp, Central European University, Adeola Adenikinju, University of Ibadan, Andreas Goldthau, Central European University, Francisco Hernandez, Lund University, Larry Hughes, Dalhousie University, Jaap Jansen, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands, Jessica Jewell, Central European University, Marina Olshanskaya, United Nations Development Programme, Ricardo Soares de Oliveira, Oxford University, Benjamin Sovacool, National University of Singapore, Sergey Vakulenko, Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Morgan Bazilian, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, David J. Fisk, Imperial College London, Saptarshi Pal, Central European University, Ogunlade Davidson, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
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- Book:
- Global Energy Assessment
- Published online:
- 05 September 2012
- Print publication:
- 27 August 2012, pp 325-384
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Summary
Executive Summary
Uninterrupted provision of vital energy services (see Chapter 1, Section 1.2.2) – energy security – is a high priority of every nation. Energy security concerns are a key driving force of energy policy. These concerns relate to the robustness (sufficiency of resources, reliability of infrastructure, and stable and affordable prices); sovereignty (protection from potential threats from external agents); and resilience (the ability to withstand diverse disruptions) of energy systems. Our analysis of energy security issues in over 130 countries shows that the absolute majority of them are vulnerable from at least one of these three perspectives. For most industrial countries, energy insecurity means import dependency and aging infrastructure, while many emerging economies have additional vulnerabilities such as insufficient capacity, high energy intensity, and rapid demand growth. In many low-income countries, multiple vulnerabilities overlap, making them especially insecure.
Oil and its products lack easily available substitutes in the transport sector, where they provide at least 90% of energy in almost all countries. Furthermore, the global demand for transport fuels is steadily rising, especially rapidly in Asian emerging economies. Disruptions of oil supplies may thus result in catastrophic effects on such vital functions of modern states as food production, medical care, and internal security. At the same time, the global production capacity of conventional oil is widely perceived as limited. These factors result in rising and volatile prices of oil affecting all economies, especially low-income countries, almost all of which import over 80% of their oil supplies.
Chapter 1 - Energy Primer
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- By Arnulf Grubler, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Austria and Yale University, Thomas B. Johansson, Lund University, Luis Mundaca, Lund University, Nebojsa Nakicenovic, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis and Vienna University of Technology, Shonali Pachauri, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Keywan Riahi, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Hans-Holger Rogner, International Atomic Energy Agency, Lars Strupeit, Lund University, Peter Kolp, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Volker Krey, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Jordan Macknick, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Yu Nagai, Vienna University of Technology, Mathis L. Rogner, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Kirk R. Smith, University of California, Kjartan Steen-Olsen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Jan Weinzettel, Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Ogunlade Davidson, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources
- Global Energy Assessment Writing Team
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- Book:
- Global Energy Assessment
- Published online:
- 05 September 2012
- Print publication:
- 27 August 2012, pp 99-150
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- Chapter
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Summary
Introduction and Roadmap
Life is but a continuous process of energy conversion and transformation. The accomplishments of civilization have largely been achieved through the increasingly efficient and extensive harnessing of various forms of energy to extend human capabilities and ingenuity. Energy is similarly indispensable for continued human development and economic growth. Providing adequate, affordable energy is a necessary (even if by itself insufficient) prerequisite for eradicating poverty, improving human welfare, and raising living standards worldwide. Without economic growth, it will also be difficult to address social and environmental challenges, especially those associated with poverty. Without continued institutional, social, and technological innovation, it will be impossible to address planetary challenges such as climate change. Energy extraction, conversion, and use always generate undesirable by-products and emissions – at a minimum in the form of dissipated heat. Energy cannot be created or destroyed – it can only be converted from one form to another, along a one-way street from higher to lower grades (qualities) of energy. Although it is common to discuss energy “consumption,” energy is actually transformed rather than consumed.
This Energy Primer 1 aims at a basic-level introduction to fundamental concepts and data that help to understand energy systems holistically and to provide a common conceptual and terminological framework before examining in greater detail the various aspects of energy systems from challenges and options to integrated solutions, as done in the different chapters of the Global Energy Assessment (GEA).