The debate about the importance of non-renewable resources for economic development between optimists and pessimists shows that an extensive depletion of non-renewable resources, particularly oil, along with a higher level of consumption could have a significant impact on the economic development prospects of future generations. Based on this debate, this paper proposes a framework of non-sustainable externalities that suggests criteria under which the depletion of non-renewable resources would create excess costs for future generations.
Therefore, this research paper aims to answer the question “What will be the impact of the depletion of non-renewable resources on sustainable economic development?” Accordingly, a sustainable development policy appears feasible by minimizing non-sustainable externalities which derive from a continued input of non-renewable resources despite the availability of comparably cheaper renewable substitutes that weigh the benefits from a previous employment of non-renewable resources.
The research based on qualitative analysis clarifies the reasons for and the extents of taking sustainability into account as well as points to difficulties of implementing policies to time the transition towards a sustainable economic development. Furthermore, the research shows the implications of this approach for environmental degradation, the depletion of non-renewable resources and energy production. The application of the framework is demonstrated by applying it on Germany´s energy policy in the transportation sector under the conditions of an adjusted Resource Scenario.
Finally, the approach of non-sustainable externalities suggests that a more sustainable depletion policy in the long-run appears feasible if globally coordinated, but international cooperation remains voluntarily until an effecitve global authority is established.

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