Global development brings with it a fast-rising demand for energy whose generation is a core environmental issue. Thus energy has become the prime focus of a plethora of research initiatives as well as being a central policy concern for governments the world over. This book demonstrates that access to, and the affordability of, energy are key components in global and national efforts to alleviate poverty and foster social equity. It traces the wide array of concerns attendant on today’s global system of energy supply, ranging from resource depletion and technological development to environmental impacts.

Worldwide cooperation and coordination is essential if we are to foster economic development that is lasting and sustainable, and which avoids the environmental catastrophes that could arise from phenomena such as climate change. This collection of contributions from a diverse group of prominent international scientists and policy makers brings together their in-depth analyses and innovative ideas about how to resolve the ‘energy for development’ predicament. It includes studies quantifying the role of energy in socioeconomic development, analysis of the interplay between supranational and national institutions in policy implementation, the energy implications of demographic trends such as urbanisation, and exploration of supply-side issues such as the potential role of nuclear energy and ‘cleaning’ fossil fuel energy generation through carbon capture. It could be argued that there are no more important issues facing mankind in the 21st century, and that this publication is an essential contribution to an urgent and complex debate.