Climate change
and energy supply security policy are currently not integrated in most
countries, despite possible synergies. The ESCAPE approach suggests
that linking climate change policy with security of energy supply could
improve climate change policy at both a national and international level.
The report explores the interaction between policies of energy security
and climate change and the options of inclusion of energy security issues
into national and international post-2012 climate negotiations. It emphasises
the importance of the US in this regard and takes a close look at US
energy policy documents.
It appears
that current US energy policy is not directed towards reducing its reliance
on imported fossil fuel, even though the government has a strong preference
for this. This study shows that measures to reduce import dependency
are mostly synergetic with climate policy and gives some options that
can be implemented. On an international level, linkages of energy security
into post-2012 climate policy may be possible in sectoral bottom-up
approaches or technology frameworks. As well, inclusion of a security
of supply criterion in international emission trading instruments may
provide potential benefits.