Competing Dimensions of Energy Security: An International Perspective

• Published in: Annual review of environment and resources Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 77 - 108
• Main Authors: SOVACOOL, Benjamin K, BROWN, Marilyn A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto, CA Annual Reviews 21-11-2010
• Subjects: Air pollution caused by fuel industries; Applied sciences; Energy; Energy economics; Energy policy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Exact sciences and technology; General, economic and professional studies; General. Regulations. Norms. Economy; Methodology. Modelling; Asia; United States; Europe; Japan; America; Denmark; North America; Spain; Availability; Performance evaluation; Energy consumption; Accessibility; Measurement indicator; Power production; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); OECD countries; Bibliographic survey; energy poverty; Energy policy; security of supply; Public policy; Environmental management; Case study; Energy; Efficiency; Environment impact; Reliability of supply; energy vulnerability
• ISSN: 1543-5938; 1545-2050
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev-environ-042509-143035

How well are industrialized nations doing in terms of their energy security? Without a standardized set of metrics, it is difficult to determine the extent to which countries are properly responding to the emerging energy security challenges related to climate change: a growing dependency on fossil fuels, population growth, and economic development. In response, this article first surveys the academic literature on energy security and concludes that it is composed of availability, affordability, efficiency, and environmental stewardship. It then analyzes the relative energy security performance, based on these four dimensions, of the United States and 21 other member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) from 1970 to 2007. Four countries are examined in greater detail: one of the strongest (Denmark), one of the most improved in terms of energy security (Japan), one with weak and stagnant energy security (United States), and one with deteriorating energy security (Spain). The article concludes by offering implications for public policy.