24 November 2014: In its annual ‘Energy Trilemma Index,’ the World Energy Council (WEC) ranked Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, the UK and Denmark as the top-five countries in energy system sustainability. The Index is included in WEC’s report, titled ‘2014 World Energy Trilemma: Time to Get Real – The Myths and Realities of Financing Energy Systems.’

The 2014 Energy Trilemma Index ranks ten industrialized countries as the top performers in energy sustainability, concluding that developed countries with higher shares of low- or zero-carbon energy in their energy mix and well-established energy efficiency programmes tend to be the best-performing. The WEC Index ranks 129 countries based on their performance in the areas of energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability. In addition, the index highlights improvements in countries such as Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), emphasizing that countries can improve their energy sustainability through appropriate policy frameworks.

The WEC report estimates that US$48 trillion in investments will be required over the next two decades to meet the world’s energy expectations. The report warns that, as governments limit their spending due to unfavorable economic conditions, the inability to invest adequately in energy could endanger countries’ ability to supply sustainable, reliable and affordable energy.

“Patterns of investment will need to change radically in terms of the type of energy source, technology and infrastructure,” underscored Joanna MacNaughton, Executive Chair of the report. She said investors “will need better help from governments, regulators and international financial institutions.”

To achieve necessary levels of investment, WEC recommends: a focus by policy makers on implementing regulatory and policy frameworks that encourage investment; ensuring that a financial infrastructure that facilitates capital flows is in place; and development by the energy sector of a robust pipeline of projects.

WEC developed the report with management consultants Oliver Wyman. The report is based on interviews with approximately 50 international energy finance community leaders. The report will be shared at the UN Climate Change Conference in Lima, Peru, in December 2014. [WEC Press Release] [WEC Publication Webpage] [Publication: 2014 World Energy Trilemma: Time to Get Real – The Myths and Realities of Financing Energy Systems] [WEC Energy Trilemma Index Webpage] [Publication: 2014 Energy Trilemma Index: Benchmarking the Sustainability of National Energy Systems] [IISD RS Coverage of Lima Climate Change Conference]