What are non-renewable resources?

Non-renewable resources exist in fixed quantities and take millions of years to form essentially gone forever once used.

Examples: Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, natural gas), nuclear fuels (uranium), mineral ores.

• Fossil fuels took 300–400 million years to form.
• Currently supply ~80% of global energy.
• Burning releases CO₂, driving climate change.

Non-renewable resources form over millions of years and cannot be replaced once consumed; fossil fuels are the most common examples.