National climate legislation and policymaking and energy security: International evidence

Abstract

With the shift towards low-carbon economies, energy security has emerged as an increasingly vital concern for governments worldwide, particularly in recent years, because of ongoing conflicts and increased volatility in the international energy market. Both laws and policies are essential tools for mitigating climate change challenges; however, its role in energy security remains unexplored. Drawing on climate-related legislative activities in 127 countries from 2000 to 2021, this study examines the short- and long-term impact of climate laws and policies on energy security performance (ESP). The empirical results demonstrate that both recent and longstanding climate laws and policies have enhanced the national ESP on a global scale. Furthermore, we find that laws outperform policies regarding energy security improvement. Additional analyses indicate that the impact of climate laws and policies on ESP is more effective across high- and upper-middle-income countries, and less effective in low-income countries, especially those in Africa. Our findings highlight the significance of climate legislative efforts and provide important implications for global governments in securing their green transition.