Extraction of natural resources requires a clear focus on sustainable development, involving economic, environmental, and social/cultural aspects. These resources will include oil and gas, coal, uranium, thorium, geothermal, metallic minerals, specialty and industrial minerals, including cement, raw materials, rare-earth elements, water, both surface and groundwater. The international year of planet earth helped to focus attention on how the geosciences can generate prosperity locally and globally, as well as sustainability issues in both developed and developing countries.