It should not come as a surprise that energy security has become one of the most central themes for the international community and organisations such as NATO, which was created primarily to deal with "hard security" challenges. Energy has always been a factor in international relations, sometimes even causing military conflicts. However, the importance of energy has never been as overwhelming as it is today, and it will undoubtedly increase in coming decades. We are already consuming twice as much energy resources than 30 years ago and this trend is projected to accelerate. In the mid-19^th century, an average human being consumed an amount of energy equivalent to 150 watts per hour (Wh). In the 21^st century, this figure has increased more than 13 fold to about 2,000 Wh. Our societies are more "addicted" than ever to energy and any major disruption of supply would cause much more damage to our economies and our way of life than it would have done in the not too distant past. Such a tremendous growth in energy consumption also results in a dependence on foreign energy supplies, not to mention the increase in pressure on the environment.

Energy security is defined as "assurance of the ability to access the energy resources required for the continued development of national power." However, energy security has different meanings around the world. While the United States and the Eastern and Central European nations are preoccupied with the security of energy supply at a reasonable price, China is seeking to secure the supply for its booming economy almost regardless of the cost, the EU is striving for more efficient management of the demand and Russia is associating this with access to foreign markets. Private industry calls for a fair and transparent global energy market. Environmental groups and pro-green governments believe energy security is the flip side of environmental interests. Some may perceive energy security as a physical safety of energy infrastructure. And yet others almost wish their country had no oil and gas resources, because often revenues from these resources merely strengthen ruling authoritarian regimes, diminish prospects for democratisation and provide no tangible benefits for the society.

What does it take to be secure in terms of energy? It is generally agreed that the supply of energy resources has to be diversified, including wider range of available energy sources as well as different options for transportation of energy commodities. Stability and transparency of the global oil and gas market is another important precondition. Producers also need to have a "spare capacity" to increase production above normal levels in the event of a crisis, while consumers need to maintain emergency stocks, such as the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve of 700 million barrels of oil. Energy security cannot be attained without proper attention to the physical protection of energy assets as well as adequate funding of research and development (R&D) in the field of energy.

Looking from today's standpoint and bearing in mind the challenge of climate change, it would be difficult to imagine a sustainable future other than a non-carbon future. However, it is also obvious that hydrocarbons will continue to play a significant role for decades to come. Reducing poverty is the top concern for many millions living in the developing world and a carbon‑based industry remains the cheapest way to develop the economy. Some 75% of China's electricity is generated from coal and this country builds approximately one coal-based plant every week.

A non-carbon future will eventually happen not because sooner or later mankind will deplete all existing resources of oil, gas and coal. As Sheikh Yamani, the former Oil Minister of Saudi Arabia, once put it, "the Stone Age did not come to an end because of a lack of stones." The two key drivers of new energy approaches are increased environmental concerns and the need for energy security.

The issue of energy security is not a new topic for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Your Rapporteur would like to recognise an excellent report presented by Jos van Gennip to the Economics and Security Committee in 2006, followed by the Assembly Resolution. The Science and Technology Committee and the Sub-Committee on Energy and Environmental Security, in particular, also have the capability to contribute to the debate on this important issue by providing their own perspectives on the technological side of the issue. Your Rapporteur regards this report as the beginning of a several-year engagement examining various aspects of energy security within our Committee. This report will attempt to provide a background overview of the major elements of this very complex issue. Your Rapporteur also wishes to recognise the co‑operation with the Committee on the Civil Dimension of Security, whose Rapporteur, Lord Jopling, was tasked to prepare a special report discussing the physical protection of critical energy infrastructure. Vahit Erdem, the Rapporteur of the Assembly's Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group, is also producing a report on the energy situation in the Mediterranean.

by Rapporteur: Mario Tagarinski (Bulgaria)

NATO Parliamentary Assembly - November 2008

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