Abstract
Abstract Social development and rapid growth in the world's population has followed a remarkable technological development the past hundred years. Revolutions in agriculture and industry, medical innovations and new production technologies, have led to an increased standard of living for a larger part of the Earth's population. Megatrends for future developments are lining up and predictions for the next 40 years are numerous. Most ideas about our future societies imply new and innovative geo-scientific achievements. Towards 2058, we will have virtually surveyed and mapped every corner of the Earth. We will have detailed 3D images of the urbanized areas, and 4D models to assist to make reliable forecasts in a world of increased pressure on the natural resources and changing ecosystems. By 2058 the Green Stone Age is established, and we will use all elements in the periodic system and more rare minerals to support new materials and technological solutions. The major energy supplies will be CO2 free. The agriculture will be more efficient, distribution and consumption of food will be more rational, and we will harvest from more marine food chains than today. More than 70% of the people on Earth will live in megacities and urban areas. Our cities will become smarter and greener, cars and public transport will be self-driving and autonomous tools using artificial intelligence to automate functions previously performed by humans. Substantial resources will be used to repair damaged ecosystems, and most important, we will use materials and products that have fewer negative consequences for the environment. The 17 UN goals for sustainable development are guidelines into the future, and geological surveys should serve as key instruments in the transformation into smarter and more sustainable societies. We are already on our way providing critical minerals for low carbon energy solutions, marine knowledge for blue growth, plans for green and smarter cities, and advanced digitalization for public services, as shown by examples in this present paper.
Highlights
In 2058 the extent of recycling will be higher than the withdrawal of new resources for many metals and minerals
The results presented by Moreno-Mateos et al (2012) show that even a century after restoration efforts, biological structure and biogeochemical functioning
In 2058, we have demonstrated that we can minimize the environmental impact of urban expansion and future development, and major cities have become significantly both smarter and greener
Summary
Raw materials have been essential in the development of all human societies through history of mankind, and as stated in the short poem by the Norwegian punk author Gene Dalby: ‘The present time is always Stone Age’. Increased recycling of valuable metals is required to meet the growing demands, but still we need to open new mines to cover future needs This means we first have to identify what mineral resources could be hidden in the remaining poorly surveyed and unmapped regions of the world, including the floors of the seas and oceans. National geological surveys will play an increasing important role This role covers mineral mapping and providing overall estimates of available resources, and means that surveys should be actively involved in contributing to policy- and strategymaking processes aiming to identify, characterize and safeguard a sustainable resource potential, notably on critical raw materials, through research, development and innovation. To meet European needs and build a necessary baseline to achieve several of the 17 UN SDGs and the 169 targets, mineral resource information and data sharing and networking by European geological surveys is becoming essential and much needed (see: http:// www.eurogeosurveys.org/expertgroups/mineralresources/)
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