New York Time's Donald McNeil Jr. discusses the implications of the discovery of potentially $1 trillion worth of minerals in Afghanistan on its future and susceptibility to falling under the "resource curse," based on the background and history of similar countries.

The White House released these Nine National Priority Objectives Regarding Ocean, Coasts, and the Great Lakes in 2010.

Correspondent Kira Kay reports on a Canadian hunt for "rare earth" minerals, elements mined almost exclusively in China, that are key to emerging green technologies, cell phones, engines and other high-tech devices despite their short supply.

Michael A. Levi discusses oil supply projections by the Energy Information Association.

John Campbell argues, "Despite China's escalating energy requirements, its attempts to expand its energy relationship with Nigeria have largely failed."

Will the massive oil spill in the gulf have any impact on the U.S. relationship to oil? Will it spur more investment in so-called clean energy? Will it improve the prospects of climate and energy legislation?

Thomas W. Lippman examines a looming food and water crisis in Saudi Arabia.

Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post presents a round-up of views on Obama's recent reversal of the ban on offshore drilling.

Peru has avoided the development problems seen in other extraction-dependent economies, but experts say the country faces governance hurdles, especially on the environment.

Buoyed by high oil prices, Russia finds itself embroiled in a number of disputes with foreign firms looking to tap its underdeveloped oil fields and with its neighbors that grew used to subsidized gas.

Jeffrey Mankoff discusses the oil dispute between Russia and Belarus, and its ramifications for greater Europe.

Ben Casselman and Guy Chazan report on offshore drilling by big oil companies that is made possible by their technological and financial advantages.

Loss of forests is a major contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions. Plans to devise a policy tool for using trees for carbon dioxide sequestration are now under way.

Biodiversity and urban forests can thrive with concrete and people, writes Jared Braiterman, pointing to Tokyo as a city that can serve as an example for sustainable, post-industrial, growth.

The Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing was signed on November 22, 2009.

Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua's efforts to reform the oil and gas industry have the potential to upset the fragile Nigerian internal political balance among the regions, ethnic and religious groups, and patronage networks, writes John Campbell.