Introduction to energy and environmental security

Sustainable development is one of the cornerstones of the global priorities in the 21st century. Energy and environmental security is a critical aspect of sustainable development. Adequate and affordable energy, a healthy natural environment, and flourishing biodiversity are vital for addressing the socioeconomic challenges including poverty, hunger, disease, and illiteracy. Poor and inadequate access to secure and affordable energy is a major issue the global energy landscape faces with more than 800 million people lacking access to electricity and over 2.8 billion people relying on traditional biomass for cooking and heating requirements. With climate change well recognized as one of the most pressing issues the world faces today, the global energy and environmental scenarios are becoming increasingly interwoven. The chapter provides an overview of the implications of climate change, before discussing the global energy and environmental security outlook. The chapter also reflects upon the global response to the wider energy and environmental challenges in general and climate change in particular.