Sustainable exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources: Theoretical principles and implications for public policies
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The paper analyzes the theoretical principles of sustainable exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources and their implications for public policies. Special attention is given to the concepts of sustainable development, intergenerational justice, and rational resource management, as well as to differences in approaches to their exploitation. Sustainable exploitation implies the alignment of economic, environmental, and social objectives, while respecting the principle of limiting resource use in accordance with their regeneration rate, ensuring the efficient use of non-renewable resources, and promoting the development of alternative solutions. In the case of renewable resources, sustainability is based on preserving their regenerative capacity, which requires careful management in order to prevent their degradation or depletion. Examples include sustainable forestry, water resource management, and biodiversity conservation. In contrast, for non-renewable resources, the emphasis is on rational use, substitution, and extending their life cycle through recycling and technological innovations that enable more efficient exploitation. Special attention is devoted to the role of institutional mechanisms and regulatory policies in ensuring long-term sustainability. Effective public policies require clearly defined objectives, transparent decision-making processes, and the inclusion of relevant stakeholders, including the scientific community, the business sector, and civil society. Instruments such as pollution taxes, subsidies for green technologies, and international agreements play a significant role in this process. The literature analysis points to key challenges in the implementation of sustainability principles, including the conflict between economic growth and environmental protection, as well as the insufficient integration of scientific knowledge into the public policy-making process. Additionally, disparities in the level of development among countries represent a challenge, complicating global coordination. It is concluded that achieving sustainable development requires an integrated, interdisciplinary, and normatively consistent approach to natural resource management, along with the continuous adaptation of policies to contemporary environmental and social challenges.
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7204441194