Natural resources and the environment have always been and will continue to be the key factors determining human development and the quality of life. Throughout the 20th century, the rapid development of human societies has led to growing impacts on nature and the natural resource base. Global ecological, environmental and socioeconomic problems caused by excessive extraction of natural resources are becoming increasingly complex. With a global economy and the globalization of ecological and environmental issues, planet earth is experiencing radical change, characterized by global warming and the degradation of whole ecosystems. This is affecting human development and ultimately will affect human survival.