Energy Use, Energy Depletion, and Environmental Degradation: Exploitation of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT The energy demand has led to the depletion of fossil fuels, resulting in environmental degradation and negative impacts on human health. The depletion of natural resources has severe implications for the environment and human life. Energy use, depletion, and environmental degradation are major threats to the world's natural resources. As the global population grows, the demand for energy continues to increase. This increased demand for energy has led to increased energy consumption, resulting in energy depletion and environmental degradation. This article examines the impact of e nergy use and energy depletion on the natural resources depletion in China from 1973 to 2019, using CO 2 emissions and forest rents as moderating variables. To this end, a time‐series analysis is employed to analyze the data from the World Development Indicators. The results suggest that natural resource depletion and energy use increase CO 2 emissions, energy depletion, and energy use, while forest rents are negatively correlated with natural resource depletion. These significant results further prove the importance of managing natural resources and energy in China. Protecting and preserving natural resources is essential to reducing energy use and conserving resources. China should introduce policies to protect and preserve natural resources, such as setting up protected areas for wildlife, limiting the exploitation of resources, and encouraging sustainable use.