Current patterns of energy use require drastic changes because of destructive impacts on land and natural resources, climate, air quality, rural and urban settlements, and human health and well-being. The need for ever higher levels of energy to fuel economic development in all regions of the world and the absence of significant world-wide advances in the development and application of alternative energy sources and increased energy efficiency will inevitably exacerbate environmental degradation. Alternative energy sources are being developed but need to be vigorously pursued and their application enhanced. Energy efficiency-that is, energy density per unit of production, whether industrial, domestic, or agricultural-still needs to be greatly improved, and emissions need to be reduced. Consideration should be given to declaring an Energy Decade, or decades, for that matter, until energy sustainability is reached.