The Earth is finite, but it is not a closed system. This is how solar, wind, tidal, and hydro are able to work: The Sun. Aside from that, it's that whole "matte

The Earth is finite, but it is not a closed system. This is how solar, wind, tidal, and hydro are able to work: The Sun. Aside from that, it's that whole "matter neither created no destroyed but merely changing forms." The difference with fossil fuels, overfishing the oceans, etc. is as was mentioned earlier, the huge reservoir of stored energy we've been consuming without replenishing, extending beyond fish populations' ability to reproduce and the system's ability to absorb excess CO2. We can be sustainable on a finite planet as long as we find the balance, which means dramatically changing the way we interact with our world: dramatically less fossil fuels converted to greenhouse gases and sustainable fisheries that protect breeding grounds (for example).