The global climate crisis and rapidly approaching energy challenges are inexorably linked and must be treated as a single problem if we are to solve either one. Humans' voracious demand for energy means that hydrocarbons will continue to be our primary energy source through mid-century. Burning hydrocarbons produces atmospheric carbon dioxide, a well known and understood greenhouse gas. Prior to the industrial age and going back at least 650,000 years, atmospheric CO2 was never higher than 300 ppm. In just the last 50 years it has increased from ~315 to 380 ppm; even the most optimistic projections suggest that the concentration will increase to at least 500 - 700 ppm by the end of this century. The warming associated with such a rise in CO2 is difficult to quantify because of positive feedbacks and lag times. The results of significant warming could be profound just as the impact of failing to meet global energy needs would be enormous. A variety of immediate and longer term solutions will be mentioned.
