Non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels and minerals, cannot be regenerated and are limited in quantity. Nuclear power, based on non-renewable elements, is not a renewable energy source. Animal and plant species driven to extinction by human use are also considered non-renewable resources. The use of non-renewable resources is controversial, and efforts to develop new practices and sustainable management programs are needed to prevent a global crisis.
Non-renewable resources are those that cannot be regenerated, and therefore are limited in quantity. They are closely tied to unsustainable resources, which can be regenerated, but not at a rate that keeps pace with consumption. There are many different types of non-renewable resources, including fossil fuels, minerals, plant and animal species,
Fossil fuels are often cited as a non-renewable resource, in part because humans are so dependent on their use. Fossil fuels are organic materials such as coal, oil and natural gas, which are created through the application of intense heat and pressure to organic materials over thousands of years. Although the Earth continues to naturally generate fossil fuels, the rate at which humans remove these resources for use far exceeds the rate of natural development. Because humans cannot synthesize the slow processes that create fossil fuels, they are considered non-renewable resources.
Although nuclear power is often described as a sustainable or renewable energy source, it is actually based on non-renewable elements known as uranium and plutonium. Both of these elements are natural resources that cannot be synthesized through laboratory creation, like gemstones, or replanted, like trees. Since the creation of nuclear energy is impossible without the use of uranium and plutonium, it is not a renewable energy resource.
Non-renewable resources are not necessarily linked only to energy production. Anything that can be consumed and cannot be replaced is a non-renewable type of resource. Animal species driven to extinction by human use, for example, can be considered a non-renewable resource. A North American bird called the Carolina parakeet was driven out of existence in the early 20th century, coveted for its beautiful plumage. The use of some trees and plants as medicines has brought many species around the world to the brink of extinction. Although both animal and plant species can be renewed through breeding and forestry programs, where these programs are absent, entire species can disappear within a few decades.
The use of non-renewable resources is a controversial and complicated issue. In the early 21st century, human society remains largely dependent on fossil fuel resources for transportation, electricity, and a host of other basic requirements. Increased education about dwindling resources has led to an outcry for the development of new practices that capitalize on renewable energy resources and proper management programs for sustainable resources. Despite these efforts, some experts fear the changes may not come soon enough, leading to a global crisis as non-renewable resources disappear.
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