Canada is a world leader in supplying stable and affordable energy, according to the 2010 annual report prepared by Oliver Wyman and the World Energy Council. However, it doesn't rank in the top ten nations for clean energy. Switzerland, a big user of nuclear and hydro power, is one of the top five in delivery of stable and clean energy. But it lags in affordability. Brazil and Italy both provide clean and reasonably priced energy, but no country scores well on all three measures.
The fact is, currently no form of energy satisfies all three criteria. Energy policymakers, accustomed to operating in a relatively stable environment with a clear direction, now find themselves struggling to balance conflicting agendas. As a result, energy policy is mired in uncertainty, which could spell danger for long-term energy investment. Policymakers - and business leaders - need to rethink their approach to energy sustainability, and soon.
