Is Energy Security the Main Driver for the West’s Debate on Climate Change?

Shebonti Ray Dadwal

Archive data: Person was Consultant at IDSA Shebonti Ray Dadwal is consultant at Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP_IDSA) where she heads the Non-Traditional Security Centre. Prior… Continue reading Is Energy Security the Main Driver for the West’s Debate on Climate Change? read more

Though global warming and climate change is a real concern and needs to be addressed, it is concerns over energy security that are driving the West’s policy and debate on climate change. With the traditional oil and gas market changing in favour of the developing countries, the developed countries are concerned about retaining their preferential access to energy resources. Consequently, they are applying pressure on the emerging economies to cut down on consumption of fossil fuels on the grounds of reducing carbon emissions, whereas their own energy policies indicate that their dependence on fossil fuels, including coal, will continue.