The global economy and energy system are interdependent strands where changes in one will often cause fluctuations in the other. This relationship was highlighted by the recent economic crisis which saw cumulative effects in other spheres including world energy demand.

The World Water Council notes that the right to water "entitles everyone to sufficient, safe and acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic" functions. Yet, the consumption and production of water for personal and domestic purposes depend mainly on the water and water transformation processes available for industry and agriculture. Indeed, water use in industry and agriculture has become so critical within and between countries that the term virtual water has been coined to distinguish it as a unique topic of discussion.

As changes in food requirements and healthcare continue to be major issues across the globe, the biotechnology industry is escalating its role as a leader in adaptation. From genetic engineering to gene mutation, the biotechnology industry is devising new ways for us to think about our health and agriculture. As the biotechnology industry expands this scientific creativity, it is simultaneously pushing the boundaries of genetic patenting. However, could these new ideas in patenting also alter the way we understand life expectancy and hunger?

One of the major hurdles to implementing international environmental sustainability objectives is securing local connectivity to, and action for, a global cause. Local communities can struggle in job training, information services support, appropriate policy and legal framework creation, and resource allocation necessary for achieving these goals. Unsurprisingly, this is more likely to occur in developing countries where initiatives are often stumped by spending capabilities and financial allocations.

What may be the largest barrier to connecting communities to international environmental sustainability objectives is cultural integration. Already environmental sustainability is influencing our cultural lifestyle choices, from the food we eat to the way we travel. However, to what extent is it impacting how we are entertained?

The islands of Mauritius and Réunion contain endemic species found nowhere else in the world that are plagued by massive population decline. Before the 1500s, these islands were uninhabited by humans. Soon after the arrival of the first explorers, Dutch settlement and the introduction of non-native plant and animal species, biodiversity loss mushroomed (WRI 1989). Since the over 400 years following the first alterations in the islands' ecosystems, populations of native birds, reptiles, and trees have been driven to extinction.

In March 2007, Earth Trends published a monthly update focusing on the uncertainty of the global biofuel industry. Since this publication, world fuel ethanol production has increased from 12 billion gallons in 2005 to an estimated 17 billion gallons in 2008. One of the key factors behind this rapid increase in production is the growth of the transportation sector. Global motor gas consumption increased by 21 percent throughout the world between 1990 and 2003. The four most prominent boosts occurred in the U.S., China, Japan, and Iran as shown in Figure 1.