The world community is grappling with abundant problems and concerns. But, in the midst of all this, there are two major, and incidentally, inter-related challenges that are toping those problems. The global energy crisis is reflected in the surging world oil prices, and the climate change challenge has turned into a tremendous apprehension. It is interesting to note that those two challenges are creating other problems. Devastating tornados, sudden floods in certain regions, and destructive droughts and famine in other regions of our planet are reducing agricultural products. At the same time, the rising demand for energy has prompted certain parties to allocate part of their corn and wheat products to produce bio-fuels, triggering waves of famine and hunger in certain parts of the globe. How are these challenges to be dealt with? In the absence of a logical and environmentally friendly compromise, more serious and acute problems may ensue. If the thirst for energy, under current world oil market conditions, forces industrial and non-industrial countries to use highly polluting fuels, environmental challenges will be more formidable. It is now evident that through our increased reliance on energy use optimization and conservation in addition to utilizing cleaner fuels, we all will be able to tackle both energy and environmental challenges. Experience of the industrialized countries in the 70s and 80s prove that focusing on demand management and energy efficiency can be the most suitable solution in slowing down or even halting energy demand growth, to a considerable extent, without impeding economic development and growth. There is a huge potential, in most developing countries to increase energy efficiency and utilize cleaner energies. A well coordinated effort in energy management and planning together with increasing the energy efficiency and extended effort in lowering the degree of energy intensity can prevent massive energy losses. This in turn could meet a considerable part of the global demand for energy, enhance energy supply security, and simultaneously mitigate pollutant emissions into the environment. This massive task calls for global cooperation and exchange of all relevant experience internationally. This conference has been organized for and is aiming at facilitating such a cooperation and partnership and by addressing global energy challenges take a road which serves the interest of all countries, and makes possible their sustainable development.