For this study, countries are categorised on the basis of their level of economic development (i.e. as being either industrialised or developing) and with respect to their indigenous energy resources (i.e. as being either energy rich or energy poor). A further factor to consider is the growing strength of the emerging regional trading blocs in the world, and the more-effective protectionist measures that these blocs have the potential to administer : a developing country is likely to benefit when it becomes parr of such a trading bloc. Nevertheless not only regionally, but also worldwide, governments are failing to address with sufficient urgency the simultaneous but related problems and consequences of : (i) the major depletion of fossil-fuel reserves that will occur during the next 50 years, and (ii) the rapid environmental degradation occurring as a result of our non-sustainable lifestyles. The issues that need to be considered when trying to implement sustainable energy policies are discussed.