Abstract
In this book, we summarize and discuss current research efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of three global challenges facing humanity. The increasing rapid growth of the global population and industrialization is not only creating serious problems for humanity today, but it is also creating challenges for the future [1]. The result of increasing global population growth and industrialization is greater demand for both energy and water. Thus, industrialization, economic growth, and improving human health are all dependent on energy and water. The sustainable management of both resources must be achieved to overcome the challenges of climate change and deliver food security. Crucially, both challenges are exacerbated by population growth, industrial development, and diminishing natural resources [2]. Fossil fuels are predominantly used to address the current energy demand. These fuels supply around 86% of the energy needed to power the world's economy. Significantly, over the next 20 years, the global population is expected to increase by 1.5 billion and will result in a total global population of around 8.8 billion people [3]. And because of the reliance on fossil fuels, the population increase will also translate into larger quantities of harmful greenhouse gases being discharged into the atmosphere. The detrimental impact of accumulating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is a very serious problem. Recent studies have highlighted the need to limit global temperature rises to no more than 2 °C of pre-industrial levels [4,5]. Consequently, global decarbonization of electricity generation, industrial and transportation sectors must immediately take place to reduce the global warming trend [6].