Geoscience provides assets for sustainable development
article
The UNCED Environmental Conference in Rio de Janeiro 1992 has changed the world. Geoscientists entered the environmental field relatively late, however; geological surveys and geoscientific research institutes adapted to this situation and have placed geo-environmental issues high on their agendas. This paper discusses their role against the background of the most relevant issues in 'sustainable development' for the next decade. These include water, soil, poverty alleviation, urbanisation, waste disposal, energy, minerals, disaster reduction and education. Although geoscientists cannot prevent nor cure all of the world's major problems, their ability to cope with long time and wide space scales together with their advanced technologies can and must contribute to solving many of society's problems. This, however, requires a new and untraditional type of geoscientist.
TNO Identifier
235048
ISSN
07053797
Source
Episodes, 22(2), pp. 78-83.
Pages
78-83