What is a significant issue associated with non-renewable energy sources?

The focus on non-renewable energy sources highlights their inability to be replenished within a human timescale, which is a significant concern for sustained energy supply and environmental health. Non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), are formed over millions of years through geological processes. Once depleted, they cannot be replaced or recreated quickly enough to meet ongoing energy demands. This depleting resource base raises serious issues regarding energy security and sustainability.

While the other options reflect challenges associated with non-renewable energy sources—as they can indeed contribute to pollution and may require advanced technology for extraction—the fundamental issue remains that these sources of energy will eventually run out. This lack of renewability is at the core of discussions about transitioning to sustainable energy solutions, making the inability to replenish non-renewable resources a critical issue in the context of global energy consumption and environmental impact.