石油在20世紀不僅取代煤碳成為全球主要燃料，且是全球重要的工業原料，廣泛的影響全世界經濟活動，成為各國經濟發展最為依賴的資源。但是石油為不可再生的能源，全球分布又極不平均，世界各國為控制或爭取石油資源，長期以來不僅造成國際政治緊張情勢，影響國際外交局勢與國家發展，更凸顯石油問題的重要性。2003年以來國際油價雖持續上揚，但全球經濟成長仍然強勁，顯示其所造成的衝擊尚不若過去兩次石油危機時期嚴重，但由於全球短時間內無法擺脫對石油的依賴，且影響國際油價上漲的因素又十分複雜，因此高油價背後所隱藏的供給、需求問題，成為值得深入探討的議題。 　　有鑒於國際石油問題的對經濟及永續發展有其重要性，本文以經濟面觀點，針對國際石油供給、需求、及相關問題進行分析。本研究主要發現為，全球石油蘊藏有限且供給不穩定，在全球石油需求將繼續增加的趨勢下，追求石油安全成為石油消費國家的重要政策；而經濟能源供需情形與產業結構上的差異，是造成2003年以來高油價與1970年代石油危機不同程度經濟衝擊的主要原因，且高油價對於全球各地區經濟產生不同程度的影響；如何因應21世紀高油價時代，以及當代面臨石油使用所造成的全球氣候暖化問題，均成為考驗各國能源發展最重要的課題，而在高油價及氣候暖化的雙重壓力下，已促使替代能源或新能源的開發蓬勃發展。藉由前述對於國際石油與替代能源發展情勢之分析，台灣在面臨國際石油問題之因應，本文提出可參採建議為，因應持續高油價可能引發的民生物價及經濟的衝擊，開放並鼓勵國內廠商赴海外合作共同探勘油田，重新檢討石油安全存量，積極開放油品市場，加速「再生能源發展條例」的立法。 / The greater part of the world’s remaining reserves of petroleum lie in the unstable Middle East region, while global petroleum needs are likely to continue to grow steadily in the future because the emerging giants of he world economy will require ever more energy for the unprecedented pace of economic development. In addition, environmental issues, a growing concern over last three decades, makes petroleum problem more complicated. With a view on economic analysis, the main findings of this research are the supply of global petroleum is unstable and finite, and the demand of global petroleum will continue to grow steadily. To solve this problem, all countries are searching for petroleum security and alternative energy. The prices of petroleum still matter to the health of the world economy, while the impact of high price of petroleum seems less injure than before. Compared to 1970s, the oil crisis, as a result of the oil supply disruptions, resulted in economic downturn, it now contains different issues both in demand and supply which present particular challenges that influence energy agendas. According to these findings, we suggest our government should adequately reflect the impact of high price of petroleum, encourage firms to cooperate internationally in explore petroleum abroad, review strategic petroleum reserve, and accelerate to legislate on regulations of development for renewable energy.