Energy security has become a top priority issue for the United States and countries around the globe, but what does the term "energy security" really mean? For many it is assuring the safe supply and transport o energy as a matter of national security. For others it is developing and moving toward sustainable and low-carbon energy sources to avoid environmental catastrophe, while still others prioritize affordability and abundance of supply. The demand for energy has ramifications in every part of the globe —from growing demand in Asia, to the pursuit of reserves in Latin America and Africa, to the increased clout of energy-producing states such as Russia and Iran.

Yet the fact remains that the vast majority of global energy production still comes from fossil fuels, and it will take a thorough understanding of the interrelationships of complex challenges —finite supply, environmental concerns, political and religious conflict, and economic volatility —to develop policies that will lead to true energy security.

In Energy Security, Brookings scholars present a realistic, cross-disciplinary look at the American and global quests for energy security within the context of these geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges. For example, political analysts Pietro Nivola and Erin Carter wrap their arms around just what is means to be "energy independent" and whether that is an advisable or even feasible goal. Suzanne Maloney addresses "Energy Security in the Persian Gulf: Opportunities and Challenges," while economist Jason Bordoff and energy analyst Bryan Mignone trace the links between climate policies and energy-access policies. Carlos Pascual and his colleagues examine delicate geopolitical issues. Assuring long-term energy security remains one of the industrialized world's most pressing priorities, but steps in that direction have been controversial and often dangerous, and results thus far have been tenuous.

In this insightful volume, Brookings assesses exactly what we're talking about, what it means in several contexts, and where we go from here.

The vast majority of global energy production still comes from fossil fuels, and it will take a thorough understanding of the interrelationships of complex challenges to develop policies that will lead to true energy security. Energy Security presents a realistic, cross-disciplinary look at the American and global quests for energy security within the context of geopolitical, economic, and environmental challenges.

Introduction 1 Pt. 1 Geopolitics 1 The Geopolitics of Energy: From Security to Survival Carlos Pascual Pascual, Carlos Evie Zambetakis Zambetakis, Evie 9 2 Energy Security in the Persian Gulf: Opportunities and Challenges Suzanne Maloney Maloney, Suzanne 37 3 How Much Does the United States Spend Protecting Persian Gulf Oil? Michael O'Hanlon O'Hanlon, Michael 59 4 Who's Afraid of China's Oil Companies? Erica S. Downs Downs, Erica S. 73 Pt. 2 Understanding Energy Interdependence 5 Making Sense of "Energy Independence" Pietro Nivola Nivola, Pietro Erin E. R. Carter Carter, Erin E. R. 105 6 Energy Security: Call for a Broader Agenda Jonathan Elkind Elkind, Jonathan 119 7 Global Governance and Energy Ann Florini Florini, Ann 149 Pt. 3 Climate Change 8 Features of Climate-Smart Metropolitan Economies Marilyn A. Brown Brown, Marilyn A. Frank Southworth Southworth, Frank Andrea Sarzynski Sarzynski, Andrea 185 9 Understanding the Interaction between Energy Security and Climate Change Policy Jason Bordoff Bordoff, Jason Manasi Deshpande Deshpande, Manasi Pascal Noel Noel, Pascal 209 10 Five "G's": Lessons from World Trade for Governing Global Climate William Antholis Antholis, William 249 Index 271