Sofiah Jamil

Rethinking Energy Security: A Non-Traditional View of Human Security

This chapter highlights non-traditional security (NTS) challenges in relation to energy security. It first frames energy security within the context of human security, which provides the foundation for NTS, and then highlights the NTS issues that have arisen in recent years, such as the traditional energy sector (i.e. fossil fuels) and alternative sources of energy. Finally, it attempts to provide some recommendations for addressing these issues keeping the future role of markets, governance, civil societies and technology in focus.

Beyond Efficiency: China’s Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Initiatives vis-à-vis Human Development

China’s recent energy efficiency and emissions reduction efforts are overviewed in this chapter along with their implications and achievements. While China’s efforts have been highly ambitious and productive, there have also been several challenges, as increased energy efficiency is only part of the solution for ensuring sustainable development. The chapter puts forth that China could achieve its energy saving targets more reasonably and effectively if alternative approaches were considered, heeding the need to deepen and broaden the concept of energy intensity, amending existing regulations on energy use, extending energy saving measures to areas of consumption and exploring alternative development approaches to traditional ways of industrialisation.