How can renewable and nonrenewable resources affect economic growth and sustainability?
Answer (1)
Renewable and nonrenewable resources are both essential for economic growth, but they affect sustainability in very different ways. Understanding how they work can help us make better decisions for the future.Renewable resources are natural resources that can be replaced over time. These include things like solar energy, wind, water, and trees (if replanted). When managed properly, they provide long-term benefits. For example, tree farming in the Philippines—where cut trees are replaced by planting new ones—can support furniture and paper industries without destroying the forests permanently.Nonrenewable resources, on the other hand, include oil, coal, and natural gas. These take millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced. Using too much of them can cause depletion, pollution, and climate change. The more we rely on nonrenewables, the more we risk harming the environment and running out of vital resources.From an economic perspective, renewable resources are more sustainable. They help create jobs in industries like solar panel installation, hydroelectric power, and eco-tourism. Countries like the Philippines, which has many natural resources, can grow economically while protecting the environment by investing in these sectors.Nonrenewables may give short-term growth through mining and fossil fuel industries. However, they create problems like pollution, health risks, and resource conflicts. The use of coal in Philippine power plants, for example, gives electricity but also contributes to air pollution and global warming.For the economy to grow sustainably, governments and businesses must balance the use of both types of resources. This means encouraging renewable energy, using nonrenewables efficiently, and educating the public on conservation.In summary, renewable resources offer a path to long-term growth, while nonrenewable resources offer quick gains with high risks. Sustainability means making sure future generations can still enjoy both economic progress and a healthy environment.
