Geosciences and the Energy Transition
A substantial and rapid decarbonisation of the global economy is required to limit anthropogenic climate change to well below 2°C average global heating by 2050. Yet, emissions from fossil fuel energy generation—which dominate global greenhouse gas emissions—are at an all-time high. Progress and act...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Earth Science, Systems and Society |
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| Online Access: | https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.3389/esss.2023.10072 |
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| author | Nicholas J. Gardiner Jennifer J. Roberts Gareth Johnson Daniel J. Smith Clare E. Bond Rob Knipe Stuart Haszeldine Sarah Gordon Megan O’Donnell |
| author_facet | Nicholas J. Gardiner Jennifer J. Roberts Gareth Johnson Daniel J. Smith Clare E. Bond Rob Knipe Stuart Haszeldine Sarah Gordon Megan O’Donnell |
| author_sort | Nicholas J. Gardiner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A substantial and rapid decarbonisation of the global economy is required to limit anthropogenic climate change to well below 2°C average global heating by 2050. Yet, emissions from fossil fuel energy generation—which dominate global greenhouse gas emissions—are at an all-time high. Progress and action for an energy transition to net zero carbon is critical, and one in which geoscience sectors and geoscientists will play multiple roles. Here, we outline the landscape of the geosciences and the energy transition in the context of the climate crisis, and intergovernmental policies on climate and social justice. We show how geoscience sectors, skills, knowledge, data, and infrastructure, both directly and indirectly, will play a key role in the energy transition. This may be in the responsible sourcing of raw materials for low carbon energy technologies; in the decarbonisation of heating; and in the near-permanent geological capture and storage of carbon through novel technology development. A new and unprecedented challenge is to reach Geological Net Zero, where zero carbon emissions from geological resource production and consumption are achieved via permanent geological storage. We identify overarching and cross-cutting issues for a sustainable and fair net zero carbon energy transition, and the associated geoscience challenges and opportunities. Finally, we call for geoscience professionals to recognise and take responsibility for their role in ensuring a fair and sustainable energy transition at the pace and scale required. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-80661e6f386e44a4894e5751ffec2ae9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2634-730X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth Science, Systems and Society |
| spelling | doaj-art-80661e6f386e44a4894e5751ffec2ae92025-01-10T14:04:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Earth Science, Systems and Society2634-730X2023-12-013110.3389/esss.2023.10072Geosciences and the Energy TransitionNicholas J. Gardiner0Jennifer J. Roberts1Gareth Johnson2Daniel J. Smith3Clare E. Bond4Rob Knipe5Stuart Haszeldine6Sarah Gordon7Megan O’Donnell81School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, United Kingdom2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom3School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom4Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom5School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom6School of Geosciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom7Satarla, London, United Kingdom8Geological Society of London, London, United KingdomA substantial and rapid decarbonisation of the global economy is required to limit anthropogenic climate change to well below 2°C average global heating by 2050. Yet, emissions from fossil fuel energy generation—which dominate global greenhouse gas emissions—are at an all-time high. Progress and action for an energy transition to net zero carbon is critical, and one in which geoscience sectors and geoscientists will play multiple roles. Here, we outline the landscape of the geosciences and the energy transition in the context of the climate crisis, and intergovernmental policies on climate and social justice. We show how geoscience sectors, skills, knowledge, data, and infrastructure, both directly and indirectly, will play a key role in the energy transition. This may be in the responsible sourcing of raw materials for low carbon energy technologies; in the decarbonisation of heating; and in the near-permanent geological capture and storage of carbon through novel technology development. A new and unprecedented challenge is to reach Geological Net Zero, where zero carbon emissions from geological resource production and consumption are achieved via permanent geological storage. We identify overarching and cross-cutting issues for a sustainable and fair net zero carbon energy transition, and the associated geoscience challenges and opportunities. Finally, we call for geoscience professionals to recognise and take responsibility for their role in ensuring a fair and sustainable energy transition at the pace and scale required.https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.3389/esss.2023.10072geological net zerocritical strategic metalsjust energy transitiongeoscience skillslow carbon geoenergy |
| spellingShingle | Nicholas J. Gardiner Jennifer J. Roberts Gareth Johnson Daniel J. Smith Clare E. Bond Rob Knipe Stuart Haszeldine Sarah Gordon Megan O’Donnell Geosciences and the Energy Transition Earth Science, Systems and Society geological net zero critical strategic metals just energy transition geoscience skills low carbon geoenergy |
| title | Geosciences and the Energy Transition |
| title_full | Geosciences and the Energy Transition |
| title_fullStr | Geosciences and the Energy Transition |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geosciences and the Energy Transition |
| title_short | Geosciences and the Energy Transition |
| title_sort | geosciences and the energy transition |
| topic | geological net zero critical strategic metals just energy transition geoscience skills low carbon geoenergy |
| url | https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.3389/esss.2023.10072 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nicholasjgardiner geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT jenniferjroberts geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT garethjohnson geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT danieljsmith geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT clareebond geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT robknipe geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT stuarthaszeldine geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT sarahgordon geosciencesandtheenergytransition AT meganodonnell geosciencesandtheenergytransition |