There is no doubt that development and energy use are closely linked. In the coming years, a key matter will be how to ensure that energy sources are economical and reliable enough to guarantee us an adequate level of development. Energy availability is an obstacle for development; but environmental impacts may also limit or put the development at risk. However, this is not the entire problem. It is clear that all activities will have an impact on the environment. The issue is when this impact becomes negative or even irreversible. Throughout history there are a lot of examples of societies that made their environment collapse and in turn they collapsed.

At the global level the impact of energy activities on climate change must be highly considered, the so-called greenhouse effect. Climate change is not indeed the only global threat to environmental sustainability, but many agree it is the most important. Its extent, complexity and direct connection with energy activities make climate change a paradigm. For example, the success or failure in the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol is still an excellent indicator of global community and each country’s commitment with sustainable development (Perez, 2002).

The impact of the production and use of energy has been observed for a long time. Deforestation of many areas and pollution associated with industrial processes are well known cases. But, although they were serious, it was about local impacts. In the last hundred years local effects have become global threats. The recognition of the association of energy with global environmental problems is a recent event that is affecting human health and quality of life, but especially that of future generations.

Undoubtedly, human activity has a big impact with respect to the environment. Today, Sustainable Development is mentioned a lot; in fact this is a contradiction of terms. Indeed, if we consider that development (which involves the permanent increase in the use of resources) must always increase. It is inevitable that within a long or short term we find crucial restrictions for development because of the inevitable shortages of resources. It is, therefore, essential to know the difference between growth and development. Indeed, a country can have strong growth, all the while achieving a high level of development simply at a slower pace. It is also possible to have large development increases with low growth rates. It is important to tell the difference between these two concepts as it allows taking a look at the evolution of a country from another perspective. In the last decade it is clear that Colombia has had enough growth; however our degree of development has been much lower. It is also clear that a finite growth is not viable because it involves having unlimited resources, which is not the case in our planet.

During the last century, impacts of human activity have been higher had taken place since the beginning of civilization. Footprints of human activity are changing the world at a rapid pace and energy has a lot to do with this impact.

Instead of detesting the technological development, it is necessary that some philosophical, ethical and social principles guide it. Not everything is good, cars have not given humans more freedom: because now travel time has increased, people need to work longer hours to pay it, cities have become uninhabitable, it is literally asphalting the living space, social conflicts are increasing because of the lack of communication, and due to noise and urban stress increasing, we move away from downtown and then our dependence on the car and our isolation increases. From that overview, it doesn’t look like the car is synonymous with social development and welfare (Valero, 2004).