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The energy transition presents a major challenge for our society. The main tools for enabling rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are well known, but implementing these vectors of decarbonisation will be challenging, partly for economic reasons and partly due to social resistance. Geoscientists working to support the energy transition have two overall tasks: they need to engage technically to enable low-carbon emissions projects to proceed, but they also need to engage with society to communicate and explain the risks and benefits of projects in a more effective way.
Geoscientists have many of the critical skills needed to support the energy transition, so the future of applied geoscience should be bright. However, challenges with financing of clean energy projects and growing social opposition to new projects means that the road ahead will be challenging.