As the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November draws nearer, the GeoNetZero (GNZ) Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)’s Academic Executive Director, Professor John Underhill, continues to broaden discussion on how research and innovation in different disciplines can assist emerging climate actions, and highlights the key role that geoscience can play in reaching net zero targets and creating a more sustainable, prosperous planet.

Much of the focus on addressing the challenges of the clean energy transition is centred on engineering solutions, but in an article published  in the September 2021 edition of GeoScientist online, Professor Underhill discusses the criticality of geoscience for low-carbon sustainable solutions in areas as diverse as geothermal technologies, carbon utilisation and storage, wind farms and mining of minerals and hydrogen production, all of which underpin the technical innovations.

His view is that the variety and number of roles available to those with geoscience knowledge and experience, often gained from the traditional oil, gas and mining sectors, is set to increase.  Preparing the work force of the future needs to begin in schools but is already taking place in Higher Education through initiatives like the GNZ CDT.