Energy and technology are essential ingredients of development; it is
only through their use that it became possible to sustain a population
of almost 5 billion on Earth. The challenges to eradicate poverty and
underdevelopment in developing countries in the face of strong popula
tion increases can only be successfully met with the use of advanced t
echnology, "leapfrogging" the path followed in the past by today's ind
ustrialized countries. It is shown in the paper that energy consumptio
n can be decoupled from economic development. Such possibility will co
ntribute significantly in achieving sustainable development.