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While dynamic enough to respond to the climate conditions of the past, energy systems as currently designed are poorly prepared for future climatic changes.  Rising temperatures, increased competition for water supply, and elevated storm surge risk will affect the cost and reliability of energy supply.

Energy is the backbone of the global economy. Ensuring a reliable supply of electricity and other sources of energy is critical to the health, safety and economic growth of households and businesses across the world. As communities that have been without power after an extreme weather even know all too well, reliable and resilient power is critical to providing health care, air conditioning, sanitation and basic services essential for human well-being and financial security. 
While dynamic enough to respond to the climate conditions of the past, energy systems as currently designed are poorly prepared for future climatic changes.  Rising temperatures, increased competition for water supply, and elevated storm surge risk will affect the cost and reliability of energy supply.  There are a number of points in the long and complex energy supply chain where climate-related disruptions could interrupt delivery of electricity, heating, or transport fuels. 

As communities that have been without power after an extreme weather even know all too well, reliable and resilient power is critical to providing health care, air conditioning, sanitation and basic services essential for human well-being and financial security.   

Climate change will also shape the amount and type of energy consumed. Energy demand is highly climate-sensitive in many sectors of the global economy, and temperature in particular is a significant determinant of both the quantity and type of energy consumed. Demand for heating and cooling fluctuates hourly, daily, and seasonally in response to outdoor ambient temperatures. Hotter temperatures will increase demand for residential and commercial air conditioning run on electricity. Climate-driven changes in air conditioning can have an out-sized impact on the electric power sector, forcing utilities to build additional capacity to meet even higher peak demand when temperatures rise. At the same time, in northern latitudes, warmer winter temperatures as a result of climate change will reduce heating demand. 

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