GLOBALENERGYDECISIONS

European ReferencesIf you’re looking for resources on how Europe is responding to the call for global energy solutions you may want to check out a few of these books that detail the subject.Reshaping European Gas and Electricity Industries (Elsevier Global Energy Policy and Economics Series) (Dominique Finon and Atle Midturn, Editors) is a thorough investigation of the shift towards Europe-wide energy regulation, markets and business strategies, and the extent to which energy systems have become more liberalized over this period. The text analyzes the key issues facing the European energy industry, from a regulatory, market, and business perspective. Current challenges within the field are also reviewed, including competitive and environmental issues. It delivers timely insights into the changes facing the European energy industry in the face of deregulation, takes a direct look at business and marketing strategies in response to the influx of competition from across the globe, and provides powerful insights into the way environmentally-based legislation has now become a key driver of the energy industry in Europe.National Reforms in European Gas (Elsevier Global Energy Policy and Economics Series) ( M. Arentsen and R. Kunneke, Editors) provides an overview, analysis and comparison of recent dynamics in several national gas markets at a time of very rapid change within this industry by focusing on the change and development of national gas markets in Europe. This overview provides a better understanding of current events and future evolution in the European gas business. Written by experts across the field of energy policy and reform, this publication will be an invaluable resource for social scientists studying the ongoing reform process in energy markets as well as industry analysts, consultants, policy makers and utility companies worldwide. The text takes a look at what can be expected at the European level given the recent trends and dynamics in national gas markets in Europe, how and why countries respond to the EU gas directives, and what the important barriers are to a harmonized European gas market from the perspective of national developments.Transatlantic Cooperation for Sustainable Energy Security: A Report of the Global Dialogue Between the European Union and the United States (Franklin Kramer and John Lyman) focuses on that juxtaposition of the world being energy short and carbon long, and the means to achieve energy security in a world concerned over climate change and maintaining economic growth. The provision of a sustainable energy future will require a dramatic transformation of the world s energy supplies and consumption patterns. The current global financial crisis and accompanying economic downturn has made meeting this challenge significantly more difficult. Despite the current softening of energy demand, the world is facing a long-term tightening of conventional energy supplies and a need to address increasing environmental concerns that will require international cooperation on an unprecedented scale.Energy and Climate Change: Europe at the Crossroads (David Buchan) traces the spreading out of energy policy from being a relatively narrow concern of the Brussels anti-trust division and market liberalizers, to becoming the focus of renewed worry about energy dependence on a resurgent Russia, and to developing into the Union’s highest profile international policy through EU leadership on climate change. The book assesses progress towards these different goals of energy policy–competitive market structure, secure supply, a low carbon economy–and argues that while they are not always equally achievable for all EU states, the policy trade-offs are easier for member states in a Union than as countries standing alone. The book has recommendations for internal energy market, energy security and climate change policies. It concludes curbing carbon emissions in a cost-effective way must be the EU’s top energy priority, and therefore renewable and bio-fuel plans should be made more rational.