Geologists Explore Avenues of Spurring Economic Development

The Geological Society of Kenya commemorates the 3rd edition of the Geo-East African Conference and Expo for the significance of natural resources and the role of geologists in sustainable economic development.

Beyond 2030 East Africa’s Geo-Resources Portfolio for Economic Development and Energy Transition focuses on sustainable natural resource use in growing economies.

Geology serves as the foundation for understanding natural resource extraction, as it provides crucial insights into the distribution and composition of valuable resources such as minerals, fossil fuels, and water.
However, the unbridled exploitation of these resources exacerbates climate change, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices that prioritize environmental preservation and mitigate the detrimental impacts of human activity on our planet’s delicate ecosystems.
climate change needs to be slowed, stopped, and ideally reversed by meeting or exceeding the targets for emissions reductions.

Greenhouse gases from human activities are the most significant driver of observed climate change. The indicators in this chapter characterize emissions of the major greenhouse gases resulting from human activities, the concentrations of these gases in the atmosphere, and how emissions and concentrations have changed over time.
When comparing emissions of different gases, these indicators use a concept called “global warming potential” to convert amounts of other gases into carbon dioxide equivalents.

These changes directly affect our environment and the health and well-being of humans globally. Stronger measures are needed to keep alive the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.

The transition from hydrocarbons to renewable energy will require more mining for critical elements and resources such as lithium and cobalt. Earth scientists are critically needed to develop the infrastructure to support renewable energy technology and deliver low-carbon energy solutions.

The world has a vital role in mitigating climate change centrally driven by reducing the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere, especially through fossil fuel combustion. Geoscientists engage in various parts of this effort, such as providing the specialty mineral resources necessary for the energy transition to a low-carbon economy.

Removal of carbon is another strategy, and geoscientists are working on carbon storage through both existing and innovative approaches including carbon sequestration in soils, enhanced weathering, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) in deep geologic formations.

Geoscientists play a pivotal role in navigating the global energy transition by employing their expertise to identify and develop alternative sources of energy such as geothermal, wind, and solar power.

Many countries in Africa particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo face challenges despite being rich in natural resources,also face many development challenges, profoundly shaped by the extraction of natural resources, which has historically not benefited local communities.