The Challenges Facing Comprehensive Energy Policy

Abstract

World leaders have long grappled with the challenges of compre-
hensive energy policy, and with little success. The United States has been
no more successful in adopting energy policy than our counterparts. But,
as challenging as the development of comprehensive energy policy is,
those efforts must be aligned with broader policies that impact health,
safety and economic prosperity for all people. Energy policies must be
compatible with policies on land use, access to water, environmental
stewardship, economic growth and national security.
Decisions made in one part of the world potentially pose significant
negative impacts to others. Our global population is expected to continue
to grow at a healthy rate, resource shortages are noticeable in parts of the
world (and expected to worsen), and the natural interest of nation-states
to keep their economies growing will continue to put pressure on en-
ergy feedstocks and other critical resources. As non-renewable resources
dwindle, shortages will inevitably lead to tension and conflict between
nations. In the worst case, these conflicts manifest themselves in military
engagement. It is within this context of an uncertain world and multiple
competing priorities that comprehensive global energy policy must find
its place, and in some way co-exist with these competing priorities.