The result is a relatively uncoordinated range of national mandates and incentives for developing indigenous energy supplies where available, including coal, heavy oils, biofuels and other renewables, which leads to a patchwork of local standards and technologies. There is a strong element of rivalry between consumer governments, but they align with each other where their interests coincide. In this scenario, national energy companies play key intermediary roles, but themselves become increasingly mired in political machinations. Globalization exacerbates the tensions within and between nations, and distracts policy-makers from the need to take action and build international coalitions to face the challenges of energy and climate change.