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GTK Policy Brief: Geosciences Support the Sustainable Management of Land and Aquatic Environments
Global environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss require actions and new ways of thinking across multiple sectors. Geoscientific research on carbon storages and sinks, geo-biodiversity, and sustainable land, inland water and sea use provides solutions towards more sustainable land use practices, healthy ecosystems and a resilient living environment.
Sustainable management of land and aquatic environments relies on deep understanding of our geoenvironment
Geosciences are vital for the digital and green transition, helping to address climate change, biodiversity loss and resource scarcity. Geosciences provide critical insights into our geoenvironment and associated ecosystem services, essential for achieving carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability.
Cross-disciplinary research into links between geo- and biodiversity is a key topic, yet it currently remains largely underexplored. Additionally, geosciences offer data, innovations and solutions that promote sustainable development, climate-proof land use and environmental resilience.
GTK’s geoenvironment research activities support the sustainable management of land and aquatic environments by focusing on:
- Carbon sinks and storages
- Geo-biodiversity
- Inland waters and marine areas
- Land use, the built environment and risk management
Human activities are drastically altering the Earth, pushing the planet beyond its safe limits and threatening global well-being through climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and resource scarcity. Mitigating these impacts requires renewable energy and resource-efficient practices that simultaneously support regenerative land-use practices and nature restoration.
Achieving carbon neutrality and environmental sustainability demands a multi-sector approach, whereby geosciences offer essential data, solutions and insights for sustainable development.
Carbon sinks and storages
Enhance and strengthen natural processes that capture and store carbon in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and tackle the risks that threaten them.
Geo-biodiversity
Focus on understanding how geodiversity underpins biodiversity to strengthen conservation and restoration efforts and strategies for land, inland water and sea use.
Inland waters and marine areas
Use geoscientific data to guide sustainable management and to promote the good environmental status of inland waters and the Baltic Sea.
Land use, the built environment and risk management
Enhance and support responsible infrastructure development, resource efficiency, circular economy initiatives, climate change adaptation, carbon footprint reduction and geological risk management for a safe and sustainable living environment. Promote healthy soils for people, food, nature and the climate.
The policy brief enables science based decision making. We are happy to discuss further.
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GTK´s Policy Briefs
GTK’s policy briefs are concise presentations based on science, compiling the latest research information in a suitable format for decision-makers and experts.
Geoenvironment
Adapting to climate change requires a wide-ranging effort by all to maintain a diverse habitat. The focus of our research is on promoting geoscience-information-based sustainable use of the environment.
