Paradoxical Relationship Between Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability

This study examines the tense relationship between energy security and environmental sustainability, the two fundamental pillars of contemporary energy governance, through a visual-comparative analysis covering more than 100 countries. Based on World Energy Council (WEC) data, the research empirically reveals that traditional fossil-focused security strategies systematically erode environmental performance and that there is a moderate negative correlation (r=−0.47) between the two variables. The study classifies countries into four unique typological clusters according to their energy profiles: "Fossil Security Paradox", "Balanced Leaders", "Fragile Greens", and "Double Deprivation". The findings show that Northern European countries can overcome this contradiction with renewable energy integration and holistic policies, while proving that some developing countries remain "forced green" due to structural constraints, and fossil-rich countries fall into the trap of "carbon-dependent welfare". By reinterpreting the obtained technical data from the perspective of climate justice and ethics, the study argues that the current security paradigm deepens global inequalities while protecting “luxury emissions”. In conclusion, it is emphasized that energy security should be redefined not only through supply quantity but also through the axis of just transition, intergenerational responsibility, and decarbonization; concluding that the paradox is not an inevitable fate but a changeable policy choice.