By Yunus, Olawale
*Professor Akinade Shadrach Olatunji.
Geoscience has a critical role to play in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as virtually every aspect of sustainable development is connected to the physical systems of the Earth, a geologist, Professor Akinade Shadrach Olatunji, FNMGS, has said
Olatunji, a professor of Applied and Environmental Geochemistry in the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, stated this in a presentation titled “Roles of Geosciences in Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals” at the Professional Training and Continuing Education (PTCE) committee on zoom, organized by Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) in which he examined how geology, hydrogeology, geophysics, geochemistry, remote sensing and other geoscientific disciplines can provide the data, knowledge and technical foundation required for sustainable economic development, environmental protection and human wellbeing.
At the centre of the presentation is the argument that sustainable development cannot be achieved by concentrating solely on economic policies and social interventions while overlooking the physical foundation upon which human activities depend. From water supply and agriculture to infrastructure, mineral resources, climate resilience and environmental management, decisions are ultimately influenced by what lies beneath and around the Earth’s surface.
From MDGs to the SDGs
Olatunji’s presentation traced the evolution of the global sustainable-development agenda from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The journey dates back to the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, popularly known as the Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, where Agenda 21 was adopted and early global action on sustainable development was launched.
Two decades later, the 2012 Rio+20 Conference provided another major milestone. The presentation noted that Colombia proposed the creation of a set of universal goals, contributing to the development of what eventually became the SDGs. Unlike the MDGs, which were designed principally around eight development targets for the 2000–2015 period and focused particularly on developing countries, the SDGs expanded the global development framework to 17 goals and 169 measurable targets applicable to all countries.
Between 2013 and 2015, a 30-member United Nations Open Working Group developed the expanded goals as the MDGs approached their deadline. The process culminated in the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development by all UN Member States. Therefore, the broader SDG framework seeks to promote peace and prosperity for people and the planet while addressing major global challenges, including climate change and the protection of oceans and forests.
The hidden foundation beneath the SDGs
A major theme of the presentation is that many of the SDGs are directly or indirectly dependent on geoscientific knowledge. Olatunji presents geoscience as the discipline that enables society to understand, measure and manage the physical systems necessary for achieving sustainable development. The presentation’s central message is particularly relevant to countries such as Nigeria, where rapid urbanisation, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation, water insecurity and the need to develop mineral resources all require reliable geological information.
Hence, he groups the contribution of geoscience across three broad areas: securing basic human needs, powering economic progress and protecting the planet. Under the first category are issues associated with poverty, hunger, health and clean water. Under the second are energy, decent work, industry and sustainable cities. The third covers responsible consumption, climate action, life below water and life on land. This framework demonstrates that geoscience is not restricted to mineral exploration. Its applications extend across a wide range of development challenges.
Tackling poverty and hunger through Earth science
For agriculture and rural development, he identifies soil mapping, hydrogeology and geochemistry as important tools. Geoscientific assessment can help determine soil characteristics, fertility and land suitability, thereby supporting better agricultural planning and crop production. He specifically points to the use of Landsat and Digital Earth Africa in predicting crop performance, assessing soil fertility and combating desertification, including applications relevant to northern Nigeria.
The identification of naturally occurring toxic elements such as arsenic, lead, chromium and zinc in soils and water is another important application. Early detection of such contaminants can help prevent exposure that could contribute to non-communicable diseases and undermine livelihoods. These interventions, however, to SDG 1, No Poverty, arguing that sustainable access to groundwater, fertile land and safe small-scale mining can strengthen rural communities and reduce vulnerability.
In this context, geoscience becomes more than an academic discipline. It becomes a practical development instrument capable of informing decisions on where communities can obtain water, where crops can be sustainably cultivated and how natural resources can be exploited without creating new environmental and economic vulnerabilities.
Water security begins underground
Water security is another area in which the presentation places geoscience at the centre of sustainable development. Groundwater constitutes a major geological resource, and understanding aquifer systems is essential for developing reliable water supplies, particularly in drought-prone regions.
According to the presentation, geological surveys can reveal aquifer architecture and identify reliable groundwater sources. Hydrochemistry can also be used to trace the movement of contaminants from industrial and agricultural activities through subsurface water systems. It further stresses the importance of determining groundwater recharge rates and establishing sustainable abstraction limits. Without such information, excessive groundwater extraction can result in aquifer depletion and, in some settings, land subsidence.
The implication for policy is clear: water planning requires accurate knowledge of the geological environment. Investment in groundwater mapping and monitoring therefore becomes an important component of climate-resilient water management.
Building safer infrastructure and sustainable cities
The rapid growth of cities presents another major area where geoscience can make a practical difference. The presentation identifies geotechnical investigations as essential for determining soil strength and rock stability before major construction projects begin. Such assessments can reduce the risk of building collapse and infrastructure failure.
Urban geology also provides information for underground development, including the planning of metros and deep basements, while geological and geotechnical mapping can help identify areas vulnerable to erosion and other forms of land instability. For coastal cities, groundwater studies can contribute to understanding waterlogging and foundation-related risks. The presentation specifically identifies rapidly expanding Nigerian coastal cities such as Lagos and Port Harcourt as examples where such information can support urban resilience.
The message is particularly significant for Nigeria, where urban expansion often outpaces comprehensive geological and geotechnical planning. Integrating geoscientific information into city planning can help authorities identify hazards before infrastructure is constructed rather than responding after disasters occur.
Geoscience and the transition to clean energy
The global transition to cleaner energy systems is also heavily dependent on Earth science. The presentation highlights the role of geophysics in identifying geothermal resources and fault zones, while atmospheric studies and terrain-elevation mapping can help optimise locations for solar and wind infrastructure.
Geotechnical investigations are equally important because large renewable-energy facilities require stable foundations. Wind turbines, hydropower dams and other major installations must be built on ground capable of supporting their long-term structural demands.
The transition to green technologies also creates new demand for critical minerals, including lithium, copper, rare earth elements and cobalt. These minerals are essential components of batteries, renewable-energy technologies and other clean-energy infrastructure.
Consequently, the presentation argues that geoscience has a dual role in the energy transition: identifying the mineral resources required for new technologies and ensuring that the infrastructure used to generate renewable energy is safely located and constructed.
Disaster risk reduction through geoscientific intelligence
Natural hazards can wipe out years of economic progress, particularly when they affect vulnerable populations. Olatunji identifies flood, landslide and subsidence risks as areas where geoscience can strengthen early warning and resilience. By combining geological mapping, geophysical investigations, monitoring systems and other scientific information, authorities can identify areas at risk and develop appropriate mitigation measures.
Floodplain mapping, slope analysis and hazard monitoring can help communities and planners understand where risks are concentrated. This information can then support safer infrastructure planning and emergency preparedness. He frames this as a shift from reactive disaster management to predictive risk reduction: instead of waiting for a disaster to occur, decision-makers should use scientific information to anticipate hazards and reduce their consequences.
Geoscience and climate action
The presentation also establishes a connection between understanding the geological past and preparing for the climatic future. Geoscientists can examine ancient geological records and sediment layers to reconstruct past environmental and climatic conditions. Such records provide baseline information that can help researchers understand contemporary changes and improve predictive climate models.
At the other end of the spectrum, geoscience contributes to climate mitigation through technologies such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Geological knowledge is required to identify suitable underground formations capable of safely storing captured carbon. This illustrates how understanding geological structures can contribute directly to efforts aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.
Protecting the oceans and land
Prof Olatunji extends the role of geoscience to both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. For SDG 14, Life Below Water, seabed and bathymetric mapping can help establish the stability of areas designated for marine protected areas and offshore infrastructure. Hydrogeological investigations can also help track the movement of pollutants from agricultural areas through coastal groundwater systems and into marine environments.
For SDG 15, Life on Land, remote sensing can monitor land-cover changes and desertification, while geochemical remediation can help restore contaminated mining areas. Geological and environmental techniques can also be applied to the stabilisation of eroded gullies and the restoration of degraded land. This highlights the interconnected nature of geological and ecological systems: activities occurring on land can affect groundwater, coastal systems and marine ecosystems.
Towards a circular economy
Responsible consumption and production also require geoscientific information. advocates mapping mineral deposits to reduce the risk of overexploitation and promote more sustainable extraction of construction materials such as sand and limestone.
Environmental Impact Assessments can incorporate geological stability and pollution-risk information before industrial facilities are constructed. Geological knowledge can also assist in identifying suitable landfill locations by assessing soil permeability and the potential for toxic leachate to contaminate groundwater.
Another emerging area is resource tracking. Geospatial mapping can be used to identify secondary mineral resources contained in tailings and mine waste, creating opportunities for reuse and supporting the transition towards a circular economy.
For the mining sector, this approach could help transform waste from an environmental liability into a potential source of additional resources, while reducing pressure on virgin deposits.
The geospatial intelligence revolution
Another major component of the presentation is the use of geospatial intelligence.
Remote sensing and nighttime-light data can be used to track economic growth, urban expansion and employment-related trends. Geographic Information Systems can monitor deforestation, industrial pollution and agricultural conditions. Three-dimensional subsurface modelling provides another layer of intelligence by converting drilling and seismic information into digital representations that can support decision-making by city planners and infrastructure developers.
Together, these technologies demonstrate how geoscientific information is moving beyond traditional maps and reports into increasingly sophisticated digital decision-support systems. For governments and industries, this creates an opportunity to integrate surface and subsurface information when planning infrastructure, managing natural resources and responding to environmental risks.
A policy architecture for geoscience-led development
Olatunji’s presentation argues that Nigeria needs a stronger institutional framework to maximise the contribution of geoscience to sustainable development. At the regulatory level, it proposes geoscience-backed Environmental Impact Assessments, sustainable zoning laws and strict controls on groundwater abstraction.
It also advocates stronger data infrastructure, including centralised pollution databases, spatial intelligence centres and comprehensive geological data on critical minerals.
Capacity building is identified as another essential pillar. In the cause of presentation, Olatunji calls for stronger university geoscience programmes, increased support for environmental research and expansion of the professional workforce, particularly in areas such as hydrogeology and geochemistry. The recommendations point to the need for a national system in which scientific information is not merely collected for academic purposes but actively incorporated into government planning, industrial regulation and economic policy.
Three major recommendations
Olatunji concludes with three specific institutional recommendations that if taken into considerations will gear up the capacity and efficiency of the geoscience phenomena.
First, it calls for the removal of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) from under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and its transformation into an autonomous agency under the Presidency.
Second, it recommends the devolution of a minimum of 50 per cent of the Natural Resources Development Fund, identified in the presentation as representing 1.63 per cent of all federation income, to fund the acquisition of geoscience data across SDG areas where geoscience is central to their attainment.
Third, it proposes the establishment of standalone Offices of Geological Services in all states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory. These offices, according to the presentation, would serve as centres for providing state-level geological information to support SDG implementation.
From reactive response to predictive resilience
The strongest message emerging from the conference is the need to change how development decisions are made. Rather than treating geological and environmental information as an afterthought, Olatunji’s framework calls for geoscience to be embedded at the beginning of the policy and planning process.
National geological, hydrological and geospatial datasets should be treated as critical public infrastructure, while geoscientists should be involved in urban planning, industrial zoning, infrastructure development and economic policymaking. Such a shift would enable governments to anticipate risks, identify opportunities and make evidence-based decisions before problems become costly crises.
The presentation’s overarching proposition is that sustainable development requires an understanding of the physical foundation upon which human societies are built. For Nigeria, where the country is simultaneously seeking to diversify its economy, expand its mining sector, improve infrastructure, secure water supplies, respond to climate change and protect its environment, that proposition carries considerable significance.
Geoscience, therefore, should no longer be viewed simply as the science of rocks and minerals. Its applications extend from the food consumed by communities and the water they drink to the roads, buildings, cities, energy systems and industries that sustain modern economies.
As Nigeria advances its sustainable-development agenda, stronger investment in geological information, scientific capacity, institutional coordination and geoscience-based policymaking could provide an important foundation for turning the country’s natural-resource potential into sustainable and inclusive development.
