Differentiate renewable and non-renewable resources with examples, and discuss a sustainability concern.

• A. Renewable resources do not replenish.
• B. Renewable resources replenish naturally (solar, wind); non-renewables are finite; sustainability concerns include depletion and pollution.
• C. Non-renewables are unlimited and harmless.
• D. Renewables are always more expensive and worse for the environment.

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is the difference between resources that can keep being used without running out and those that cannot. Renewable resources replenish naturally and relatively quickly, so they can be used repeatedly over time. Examples include solar and wind power, as well as hydro and biomass. Non-renewable resources are finite and form very slowly in nature, so once they are extracted and used, they can’t be replenished on human timescales; fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas are the classic examples.

A key sustainability concern is that relying on non-renewables leads to gradual depletion of these finite stocks, which can drive price volatility, supply insecurity, and, importantly, environmental harm from extraction, processing, and burning. Renewable resources reduce depletion risk, but their sustainability depends on how we manage technology, storage, and infrastructure to address issues like intermittency and ecological impacts.

That’s why the statement describing renewables as replenishing naturally (solar, wind), non-renewables as finite, and sustainability concerns including depletion and pollution best captures the differences and trade-offs.