Energy Security and Environmental Impact - Essay Example

DO YOU THINK IN THE FUTURE THE USA OR CHINA WILL BE THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IN ACHIEVING ENERGY SECURITY? WHAT ARE THE MAIN ACTIVITIES THEY DOTO IMPROVE? Introduction As we enter the new millennium, there has been increased reference e to the need to adopt new energy practices. This has been catalyzed by the evident climatic changes that have been witnessed in the world. As the ice caps on the polar region reduces and the level of water in the sea rise, there is a concern from all of use about the future of the earth. The effect of fossil fuel on the environment has been shown as increased global warming effect due to green house effect which has been caused by increase emission of carbon dioxide gas and other gases of the atmosphere. As the wave of climate change takes on the world, the only solution that has been agreed upon by all the leaders of het world has been the need to change energy consumption pattern in order to attain sustainable development that will help the current generation to meet it needs and at the same time help the future generation to meet their own needs. Achieving energy security Energy security has been a term that has been applied in many areas but which still remains controversy. This is due to many interpretations that have been given to the simple concept. Energy security in it simple definition means an aspect in which the world will be secure in supply and use of energy resources. Apparently the world has been relying on fossil fuel do drive its industries. There have been many dangers that have been associated with such a policy because the world cannot be guaranteed that the same supply of energy will be there in the future that it will be sustainable. The concept of energy security therefore encompassed in the aspect of the future needs of the world and the ability of the resources to satisfy these needs. There have been many arguments on the time fossil fuel will be availed to the world. There has already been a concern that the world may soon run out of crude oil and by then there may be a negative effect on the economy of the world. Therefore the greatest question here has been the ability of fossil fuel to supply the world with all the energy it needs in the future. At the same time the rate at which fossil fuel has been polluting the environment has been a concern to all people on the viability of their use in the future. Therefore the concept of energy security has been compounded on these issues. (Alhajji, 2007) Efforts to achieve energy security in the word There have been many efforts that have been aimed at achieving energy security in the world. On the eve of the First World War, Lord of Admiralty Winston Churchill decided to power the British Navy ships with oil instead of coal. Although this was a decision that was aimed at making them faster and efficient that the German ships, it as the first instance where the question of energy security first arose. This crucial decision meant that the Royal Navy had to rely on unstable oil supply form Persia rather than a stable coal supply from Wales. However there have been many paradigms on which the issue of energy security has been argued on since then. Most of the argument have centered on the way in which the world will be able to get a stable supply of energy but recently it has also shifted to the way in which we can get stable supply of clean energy. This is because energy security is lodge in many aspects and not one only. The recent race to achieve energy security has become race between emerging powers of the world mainly between the USA and China. In the two powerful nations, there have been concern over the way in which energy has been used and incidences of power blackout on East and West coast of United States and in china has become an issue of concert of many people. However both countries have been taking various steps that are aimed at making sure that they achieve energy security. (The White House, 2008) China has been investing heavily in energy researches in order to come up with energy efficiency policies which will help it to fill its energy demand gap. It has invested heavily on research and production of biodiesel which is expected to be one way of ensuring that the country meets its energy demands. The country has also been holding various conferences especially in the industrial hub city of Shanghai in order to find policies that will help it to become energy secure. One of the policy that both have been carrying out has been massive hunt for energy resources in all parts of the world. Like the US China has been involved in hunt of energy resource especially turning its attention in Africa which is believed to still hold important energy resources. In the same way US has been involved in a hunt of energy resources and making of concession with energy rich countries in order to secure supplies. There have been efforts by the United States to delineate its economy from relying on fossil fuel which has been shown as a great challenge to the economy. It has invested heavily on the conversion of corn starch to energy a project that has not yielded positive results. The US has been diversity energy supply by emphasizing on the need to use renewable energy resources in order to increase energy efficiency. This has been discussed in the Washington International Energy Conference which has show the import of using renewable and other alterative energy resources. The country has also been investing in hydrogen research which is expected to be a major source of energy for industries. (Yergin, 2006) There has been a partnership between the two nations which are aimed at addressing the issue of energy security in an effort to promoted use of clean energy in the world and to make the world cleaner. Being the biggest two economies in the world they are making important steps that will make them become energy secure in the near future. (The White House, 2007) References Alhajji, A 2007, What is energy security? Middle East Economic Survey, Retrieved from http://www.mees.com/postedarticles/oped/v50n45-5OD01.htm on 8th May 2008 The White House, 2007, The United States and China: Addressing energy security, climate change and environment stewardship together, Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/uschina.html on 8th May 2008 The White House, 2008, Energy Security for the 21st Century, Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/energy/on 8th May 2008 Yergin, D 2006, Ensuring energy security, Foreign Affairs, March 2006, Retrieved from http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20060301faessay85206/daniel-yergin/ensuring-energy-security.html on 8th May 2008 Read More