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Earth to Economy: Accelerating

Innovation for Climate-Change Solutions

Kasey White, Director for Geoscience Policy, Geological Society Q2: How would you reach that climate-change goal? What
of America (GSA); Doug Walker, GSA Past President; Barbara stakeholders, technology, and/or partnerships are needed to
Dutrow, GSA President; Mark Little, GSA President-Elect effect change?
Ideas offered here may take longer than three years to implement,
With a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the but all must be started today to have any hope of implementing in
Geological Society of America (GSA) gathered input from the the future. Responses concentrated on ways to involve the commu-
geoscience community to identify bold and creative ideas for nities of stakeholders and researchers whose work impacts the solu-
translating scientific research to solutions for climate-change tions for climate change, promote behavioral and political solutions
problems that can be implemented within a two- to three-year for climate change, and invest in targeted cutting-edge research.
timeframe. Ideas focused on four specific questions.
GSA used multiple social media platforms to solicit feedback Q3: How do we effectively communicate the critical role of
from its broad membership during the two-week comment period. geoscience to the public and decision makers in providing
A website was created to submit text and video answers to ques- solutions, tools, utilities, and technologies to help address
tions designed to elicit requested information. GSA also conducted identified challenges in climate change?
targeted outreach to ensure the project received responses from A primary missed avenue to working on solving climate change
students, early career professionals, groups underrepresented in is the knowledge base of the public and public officials. Responses
the geosciences, people from multiple subdisciplines, and other here are aimed at much-improved communication and education,
stakeholders who might not be GSA members. Additionally, including using professional communicators and compelling
online brainstorming sessions provided opportunities for interac- graphics. Although we all live the reality of climate change, no
tion and idea development. consistent and crystal-clear message is being communicated.
GSA is grateful to its members and the broader community for
their thoughtful responses. These responses illustrate the funda- Q4: How can we effectively embed a culture of innovation,
mental role of geoscience in understanding climate change and its entrepreneurialism, and translational research in the geosci-
impacts, sourcing needed materials for solutions, and designing ences? What resources, training, pedagogical change, etc.,
effective mitigation, geoengineering, and adaptation measures. are needed to drive forward that change?
Geoscience will be critical to understanding the changing condi- The responses to this question were generally aimed at better
tions that affect communities, such as water resources, agricul- communication and education of the public and students on climate-
ture, and extreme events, and developing mitigation measures, change and engineering solutions and making scholarly products
such as low-carbon energy sources and carbon capture and stor- more readily available and accessible. They also addressed the
age. Equitable partnerships and engagement with communities, nature of incentives afforded to researchers and actions that the NSF
particularly those most vulnerable to climate impacts, are needed. can take in the short-term to create and foster research in climate
These efforts must be prioritized, valued, and funded, which change solutions as well as translational research.
requires a change in the culture and funding structure to be effec-
tive. Summaries of the answers to each question follow. GSA’s full We take this opportunity to recognize that no one scientific
report to the NSF is online at https://www.geosociety.org/GSA/ discipline has all the solutions or the expertise to innovate and
Science_Policy/GSA/Policy/climate-solutions.aspx with reports change. We also know that non-scientists have tremendous knowl-
of other societies that conducted similar outreach. edge and critical context to contribute. We at GSA are already
working with other organizations and societies to share and col-
Q1: What do you view as the most transformative climate- laborate, as are our members and leaders. We welcome further
change challenge(s) that can be addressed with actionable discussions with the broad NSF community and representatives of
solutions in a two- to three-year timeframe? the sciences and the public to work together on the climate-change
The responses to this question were extensive and covered a solutions needed for a robust world.
large range of topics. The responses focus on ways to adapt to
climate, promote low/no-carbon energy and storage, reduce the
carbon footprint of transportation and infrastructure, and expand
research on carbon sequestration and geoengineering.

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