How can an understanding of geology support and strengthen international development?
#7 – Identifying, extracting and managing natural resources, including appropriate environmental protection and post-mining restoration. Minerals and other natural resources are used in every sphere of society – every mobile phone, every computer, every wind-turbine. The income these can raise, also offers an exciting opportunity for countries to promote development, investing in jobs, infrastructure and capital funds to support ongoing development work. Mining that effectively supports development requires an approach that is transparent, risk-averse and upholds human rights – as noted in the ICMM 10 Sustainable Development Principles.
#8 – Environmental Management – Our understanding of the Earth’s past and current processes can help to inform and improve our management of key Earth systems to improve the natural environment, habitats, livelihoods and human wellbeing. It draws on many key geoscience skills, ranging from geochemistry, to environmental modelling. It encompasses areas already discussed (water, natural resources, hazard management) but also many other key areas, particularly contaminant (and medical) geology. An interesting example can be seen in the UK media today, where studies of mass extinctions and their relationship to ocean acidification in geological history can help us to improve our environmental management today – http://tinyurl.com/n99n2hr
#9 Geo-Education. Many of the #GfGDBasics #1-8 listed in previous days (e.g., water and sanitation, disaster risk reduction, environmental management) are topics where members of the public have information to input, and crucial information that they need to know. Integrating geo-education into the curricula of primary and secondary education empower communities with a knowledge that can be transformative.
