Leading environmentalists have recently been urging the UK Government not to allow mining of metallurgical coal in Cumbria. Part of the environmentalists’ case is that approval of the Cumbrian mine would hinder UK’s leadership at the COP26 climate summit to be held in Glasgow this November. I disagree. Continue reading
Category Archives: Policy
COVID-19 threatens access to low carbon energy in the developing world
Professor Mike Stephenson reflects on the intensified challenges facing the global provision of low carbon energy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading
Responsible Investing in Natural Resources
What exactly is ‘Responsible Investing’? How can it be measured and delivered effectively? Can the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) help to drive responsibility in the mining industry? Continue reading
Energy transitions: the geological story
Professor Mike Stephenson of the British Geological Survey, discusses the geology of energy transitions, and considers how understanding their history may reveal insights about how future transitions will unfold and develop. Continue reading
Replacing hydrocarbons with hydrogen?
The term ‘hydrogen economy’ was first coined by the chemist John Bockris, to describe the use of hydrogen as a fuel rather than the oil, gas and coal that form the present hydrocarbon economy. Continue reading
How can we decarbonise economic development?
Decarbonisation and the developing world To accompany the Society’s briefing note ‘The Role of Geoscience in Decarbonisation’ following this year’s Bryan Lovell Meeting, Mike Stephenson, Executive Chief Scientist at the British Geological Survey, has written a series of blogs unpacking some of the critical issues. This blog considers the challenge of decarbonisation in the developing … Continue reading
Young scientists represent the Geological Society at Houses of Parliament
On Tuesday 12th March, six representatives of the Geological Society were lucky enough to head down to the House of Commons in Westminster to quiz MPs on topics relating to science and policy for Voice of the Future 2019. Continue reading
Science is global: Applying for IGCP project funding
The International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) recently held their annual open meeting at UNESCO, reviewing progress in 2018 and announcing their latest funded projects. Joel Gill* reports on this meeting, introducing the IGCP and sharing thoughts on how to craft a successful application. Continue reading
Geology vs. climate change
How can geology help with the decarbonisation of our society? Continue reading
Geology and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
As part of exploring the role of geoscience in delivering the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Geological Society has been working with the British Geological Survey and Geology for Global Development to develop a briefing note of the role of geology and geologists in delivering the SDGs. Continue reading