Modern consumption patterns are a product of the historical development and industrialization of the United States, including increased consumer spending and demand for energy-intensive goods. These historical and social trends provide the foundation for understanding contemporary patterns of consumption of natural resources, undoubtedly a cause of global climate change and other serious adverse environmental effects. Significant environmental problems have occurred due to the continued depletion and degradation of public resources, with little consideration for the ultimate costs, whether known and ignored or simply unforeseen.