1.3 The Paradox of Energy Security and Sustainability
11
economic growth argue that the current standard means of measuring economic
growth ignores other factors vital to the wellbeing of the individual and populations
such as environmental protection, and sustainable happiness of inhabitants. They
argue that besides economic development, there is a need for measuring levels of
satisfaction and community interrelationships.
Is energy (commercial) a necessity or basic need? This question has been broadly
dealt in the 1987 report ‘Our Common Future’ prepared by the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland et al. 1987). The report defines
sustainable development as
development that meets the need of present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
Simply explained—sustainable development is a process of change in which
exploitation of resources, technological development, financial investment, and institutional change are in harmony and enhance both current and future potentials to meet
the human needs and aspirations.
The relationship between sustainable development and energy security has two
important features. One is adequate energy supply that acts as a source of prosperity
that satisfies the basic human needs, improves social welfare, and enhances economic
growth. The other is that the production and use of energy should not endanger the
quality of life of current and future generations and should not exceed the carrying
capacity of ecosystems.
Sustainable development with secure energy is possible with the following
options:
1. Assured availability of energy to the consumer at all times in adequate quantities,
in various forms, and at affordable prices over a long-term period.
2. Increased reliance on renewable energy sources.
3. More efficient use of energy especially at end user level—in heating and cooling
buildings, electrical appliances, vehicles, and industrial production systems.
4. Development and deployment of advanced energy technologies (for fossil fuels)
at an accelerated pace, especially those that help in near zero harmful emissions.
Unfortunately, more than three decades after the publication of this report, developing world including India continues to rely heavily on non-renewable sources
(coal and crude oil in particular), and introduction of advanced energy technologies
is much slower than expected.
Energy needs for growing population and economic development are central to
the planning process, particularly in oil importing developing countries like India.
Uncertainty about fossil fuel prices, the growing risk of fossil fuel dependence,
the high levels of GHG emissions, and the cost of alternative energy sources will
ensure that wood for fuel remains in great demand at least for the next 20–30 years.
Unlike other sources of domestic energy wood is easy to grow, harvest, and use with
minimum technical and financial inputs as well as least reliance on outside agencies.
Globally, the number of people dependent on biomass resources as their primary
fuel are likely to increase to 2.7 billion in 2030 (Broadhead and Killmann 2008) with
11
economic growth argue that the current standard means of measuring economic
growth ignores other factors vital to the wellbeing of the individual and populations
such as environmental protection, and sustainable happiness of inhabitants. They
argue that besides economic development, there is a need for measuring levels of
satisfaction and community interrelationships.
Is energy (commercial) a necessity or basic need? This question has been broadly
dealt in the 1987 report ‘Our Common Future’ prepared by the World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland et al. 1987). The report defines
sustainable development as
development that meets the need of present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs
Simply explained—sustainable development is a process of change in which
exploitation of resources, technological development, financial investment, and institutional change are in harmony and enhance both current and future potentials to meet
the human needs and aspirations.
The relationship between sustainable development and energy security has two
important features. One is adequate energy supply that acts as a source of prosperity
that satisfies the basic human needs, improves social welfare, and enhances economic
growth. The other is that the production and use of energy should not endanger the
quality of life of current and future generations and should not exceed the carrying
capacity of ecosystems.
Sustainable development with secure energy is possible with the following
options:
1. Assured availability of energy to the consumer at all times in adequate quantities,
in various forms, and at affordable prices over a long-term period.
2. Increased reliance on renewable energy sources.
3. More efficient use of energy especially at end user level—in heating and cooling
buildings, electrical appliances, vehicles, and industrial production systems.
4. Development and deployment of advanced energy technologies (for fossil fuels)
at an accelerated pace, especially those that help in near zero harmful emissions.
Unfortunately, more than three decades after the publication of this report, developing world including India continues to rely heavily on non-renewable sources
(coal and crude oil in particular), and introduction of advanced energy technologies
is much slower than expected.
Energy needs for growing population and economic development are central to
the planning process, particularly in oil importing developing countries like India.
Uncertainty about fossil fuel prices, the growing risk of fossil fuel dependence,
the high levels of GHG emissions, and the cost of alternative energy sources will
ensure that wood for fuel remains in great demand at least for the next 20–30 years.
Unlike other sources of domestic energy wood is easy to grow, harvest, and use with
minimum technical and financial inputs as well as least reliance on outside agencies.
Globally, the number of people dependent on biomass resources as their primary
fuel are likely to increase to 2.7 billion in 2030 (Broadhead and Killmann 2008) with