A look at sustainability from a biologist with expertise in species abundance and distribution, presenting a picture of using, wasting, and exhausting energy and resources. Traces histories of population growth and resource use to examine the resulting waste. Life and growth depends on resources and energy. Growth in energy need spurs growth in energy sources: water, wind, animals, and fossil energy. Fossil energy generates atmospheric waste, which creates climate change. Climate change causes food shortages and social collapse. Because the problems are interconnected, solving individual problems cannot work. Instead, we need to tackle population growth.