Hydrocarbons

Unlike agriculture and the forest industry, the industries which make use of hydrocarbons such as coal, natural gas and oil, have a unique problem. Their resources are non-renewable. Oil, gas, and coal cannot be cultivated at the rate of other natural resources and certainly not at the rate of resource development. This makes resource protection and sustainable resource development a particular problem.  

Another issue at hand in terms of resource development is the environment. Unfortunately, the burning of hydrocarbons for fuel creates dangerous emissions which are detrimental. Because of this, more research has been done to create technology which will minimize the negative effects of these fossil fuels on the environment.