Abstract
This paper evaluates the performance of energy policies in the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), a regional initiative consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, but also considering Venezuela (full member since mid-2012) and Bolivia (full participation under negotiation since 2015). The methodology is based on a qualitative-quantitative approach. First, we provide a critical review of the literature on energy security. Then, we carry out a comparative analysis of energy policies in Mercosur countries, concluding that there is no harmonization between them. Next, we offer the new concept of socio-environmental-energy security (SEES) as a more suitable approach to deal with current challenges, providing a hybrid quantitative indicator-based approach to the SEES index. Ergo, after defining the indicators, selecting the data, carrying out a normalization process, assigning weights and aggregating data points, the SEES composite index is generated. We suggest that energy integration can contribute to better regional performance in terms of energy policies and that the SEES index can guide policy makers and investments, replacing the old-fashioned concept of energy security.
Highlights
As energy markets become increasingly global and interdependent, issues affecting energy systems increase in number and complexity
We extend the concept to developing countries, stating that it refers to “sufficient energy supply to meet all requirements at all times of all citizens in affordable and stable price, and it leads to sustain economic performance and poverty alleviation, better quality of life without harming the environment” [38] (p. 653); Short-term analysis vs. Long-term analysis: generally, in the short and medium-term analysis, energy security focuses on the impacts of price shocks or unanticipated supply disruptions; but in the medium-term, the promotion of renewable energy to deal with oil dependence can be considered [39]
In order to avoid insisting on a worn out debate of almost half a century, we propose the concept of socio-environmental-energy security (SEES) to deal with the reality of Southern Common Market (Mercosur) countries
Summary
As energy markets become increasingly global and interdependent, issues affecting energy systems increase in number and complexity. Energy security in global markets is determined by many factors, such as economic growth, energy efficiency, pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, development and implementation of new technologies as well as the social role in ensuring (universal) access to energy. The concept of energy security has raised controversies over its definition, scope and approaches for decades, mainly because it is a concept that emerged in the context of the 1970s international oil crises. Studies on energy security have been criticized for a number of reasons, including that they employ a narrow interpretation of the concept and rarely use a systematic approach. Significant differences between studies are observed in how energy security is evaluated qualitatively and/or quantitatively. The latter usually considers the assembly and use of indicators
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