is a multidisciplinary, scientific platform for widening the discussion and creating awareness about problems of Geoethics and Ethics applied to the Geosciences.
IAPG is legally recognized as a not-for-profit association, has 3071 members in 129 countries on 5 continents, and can count on a network of 35 national sections.
IAPG works to developing theoretical and practical activities covering a wide range of contents comprising: philosophy of geosciences and history of geosciences thinking; research integrity and professionalism in geosciences; working climate issues and related aspects; geoethics in georisks and disaster risk reduction; responsible georesources management; ethical and social aspects in geoeducation and geoscience communication; geoethics applied to different geoscience fields including economic geology, paleontology, forensic geology and medical geology; ethical and societal relevance of geoheritage and geodiversity; sociological aspects in geosciences and geosciences-society-policy interface; geosciences for sustainable and responsible development; geoethical implications in global and local changes of socio-ecological systems; ethics in geoengineering; ethical issues in climate change and ocean science studies; ethical implications in geosciences data life cycle and big data; ethical and social matters in the international geoscience cooperation.
What is Geoethics?
Geoethics consists of research and reflection on the values which underpin appropriate behaviours and practices, wherever human activities interact with the Earth system. Geoethics deals with the ethical, social and cultural implications of geoscience education, research and practice, and with the social role and responsibility of geoscientists in conducting their activities.....
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Affiliations and Agreements
IAPG promotes geoethics through the international collaboration with Associations and Institutions. IAPG has:
7 affiliations, 30 agreements for cooperation, 5 partnerships.
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IUGS Officers meet the IUGS President on 17 March 2022
Speakers at the Short Course on Geoethics
EGU 2015: IAPG informal meeting
IUGS Officers meet the IUGS President on 17 March 2022
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International Geoethics Day 2023: fostering the importance of geosciences for society
12 October 2023
If you want to organize an event (conference, webinar, seminar, field trip, etc.) to celebrate the International Geoethics Day, please inform the IAPG Secretariat by sending an email to: iapgeoethics@aol.com. IAPG will be happy to promote your event.
Hashtag: #geoethicsday2023
IAPG and WOMEESA signed a MoU
The International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) and the Women in Earth and Environmental Sciences in Australasia network (WOMEESA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 15 August 2023.
The aim of the MoU is to develop a coordinated approach, where appropriate, for promoting initiatives and events on gender diversity, equity, and inclusion in the geosciences, as well as on the ethical, social, and cultural implications of geosciences, and favoring high ethical standards in the research and practice of geoscience in order to better serve the geoscience community and society as a whole. WOMEESA agrees to support the “Cape Town Statement on Geoethics” (that contains the Geoethical Promise, an Hippocratic-like oath for geoscientists, https://www.geoethics.org/ctsg) and agrees to be included in the list of supporting organizations of the statement. WOMEESA (https://www.womeesa.net/) is a non-for-profit initiative that brings together Earth and Environmental Scientists through Australasia. The objectives of WOMEESA are to: (a) promote gender equity and women in Earth and Environmental Sciences and related fields across all industries in the Australasia region; (b) provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and knowledge towards gender equity in Earth and Environmental Sciences and related fields; and (c) serve as a link between various Australasian and international organisations and individuals with interest in achieving gender equity in Earth and Environmental Sciences and related fields.
IAPG and IUSS signed a MoU
The International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) and the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in May 2023.
Both organizatons agreed that IUSS and IAPG are facing a future of challenging soil and geologic resources use and management issues. IUSS and IAPG will use their best effort to promote the formal co-operation by obtaining the necessary support for envisaged activities. The partnership generally aims at developing new knowledge, sharing experiences, and distributing knowledge and skills for the benefit of the whole world.
The IUSS is the global union of soil scientists. The objectives of the IUSS are to promote all branches of soil science, and to support all soil scientists across the world in the pursuit of their activities.
Follow the IUGS Commission on Geoethics on:
The new IUGS Commission on Geoethics
On 16 February 2023, the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences has officially established the Commission on Geoethics (CG). The proposal for creating the CG was presented at the 78th IUGS Executive Committee (EC) meeting in Belfast (UK) by Silvia Peppoloni (past IUGS Councilor and Secretary General of the International Association for Promoting Geoethics - IAPG) (photo on the right).
The CG will be the supporting branch of the IAPG to the IUGS and the IUGS body that officially deals with geoethics and social geosciences for the Union.
The CG has a light structure made up of a Governing Board, a Supportive Structure, and an Operative Structure consisting of Task Groups working on specific issues. Among them, there is the task group dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion, which takes the baton from the existing IUGS task group dedicated to those issues.
The core business of the CG consists of the following activities, to be developed in cooperation with the IAPG:
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Drafting and updating ethical guidelines for the IUGS.
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Supporting the IUGS (officers and bodies) regarding questions such as unprofessional conduct, misconduct, harassment, retaliation, racism, sexism, conflicts of interest and others.
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Fostering the participation of women in activities, events, and other initiatives organized or supported by the IUGS with the aim of reducing the gender gap and increasing diversity.
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Cooperating with IUGS bodies to focus on geoethical issues or other themes of mutual interests.
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Contributing to IUGS events (congresses, including the International Geological Congress - ICG, conferences, videos, webinar, etc.) or any other scientific or public events.
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Supporting the IUGS in developing activities at the geoscience-policy interface and delicate issues related to geoscience-society interaction.
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Promoting the adoption of the Geoethical Promise within Universities and geoscience organizations.
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Organizing events that address ethical and social implications of geoscience knowledge, research, practice, education, and communication.
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Training on geoethics, professional ethics, data ethics, and publication ethics.
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Networking with geoscience (affiliated or not to the IUGS) and humanities organizations to create opportunities for bridging geosciences and human and social sciences.
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Fostering opportunities to increase the impact of IUGS in Latin American and African countries by promoting activities to foster the culture of geosciences among local geoscience communities.
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Supporting the IUGS in enlarging its network in countries in which the presence of the IUGS is missing or to be developed/increased.
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Preparing an annual report containing the outcomes of the reference year, a plan of activities for the new year, and a financial request to the IUGS. The annual report will contain results, activities, events, publications, or any kind of outcomes of the IAPG to be considered as outcomes of the CG.
GC dedicated web pages are hosted on the IAPG website (https://www.geoethics.org/iugs-cg).
In addition, the CG has its official social media pages:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iugs.geoethics/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9314437/
AGU Ethical Framework for Climate Intervention
From AGU website:
Climate change requires urgent action. Increasingly, the world is considering dramatic climate intervention approaches—often called geoengineering. Many of these approaches are untested and the consequences are not well understood. In 2022, AGU launched its plan to develop an Ethical Framework for Climate Intervention Research, Experimentation and Deployment—a code of conduct to guide climate intervention measures that may be needed in addition to emissions reduction.
JGSG published its fourth article!
The Journal of Geoethics and Social Geoscience published its fourth, open access, article on 29 May 2023.
The article can be cited as follows:
A new book on geotourism
Mamoon Allan and Ross Dowling (Eds.)
Geotourism in the Middle East
2023, Springer, Cham, XV+278 pp., ISBN 978-3031241727. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24170-3
This book contain the following chapter on geoethics:
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G. (2023). The Significance of Geotourism Through the Lens of Geoethics. In Allan M. and Dowling R. (Eds.), Geotourism in the Middle East, Springer, Cham, pp. 41-52. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24170-3_3
JGSG published its third article!
The Journal of Geoethics and Social Geoscience published its third, open access, article on 25 May 2023.
We remind you that this journal is dimond open access and is supported by the IAPG. No Article Processing Charge (APC) is requested to authors and no fee is paid by readers.
The article can be cited as follows:
25-27 April 2023
Vienna (Austria) and online
Geoethics at the EGU 2023
Session EOS4.1
Geoethics: Geoscience Implications for Professional Communities, Society, and Environment
Conveners: Silvia Peppoloni, Antti-Ilari Partanen, Louise Mimeau, Giuseppe Di Capua
Orals | Thu, 27 Apr, 08:30–12:30 (CEST), 14:00–15:45 (CEST) Room 0.14
Posters on site | Attendance Thu, 27 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) Hall X2
Posters virtual | Attendance Thu, 27 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) vHall EOS
Session co-organized by BG8/CL3/ERE1/GM13/NH9/OS5 and co-sponsored by IAPG
Session EOS2.3: Climate and ocean education: Geoethics, emergency, fossil fuels, war and more
Conveners: David Crookall, Giuseppe Di Capua, Svitlana Krakovska, Bärbel Winkler, Dean Page
Orals | Wed, 26 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) Room 0.15
Posters on site | Attendance Wed, 26 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) Hall X2
Posters virtual | Attendance Wed, 26 Apr, 16:15–18:00 (CEST) vHall EOS
Session co-organized by CL3/OS5 and co-sponsored by IAPG and Future Earth
Town Hall Meeting TM14: Climate change communication: What policy, education, research, geoethics and action are realistic?
Conveners: David Crookall and Bärbel Winkler
Tue, 25 Apr, 19:00–20:00 (CEST) Room 1.14
Session co-organized by CL3/OS5 and co-sponsored by IAPG and Future Earth
Details about these sessions and town hall meeting:
Geoethics Medal 2022
We are happy to announce that the Geoethics Medal 2022 was assigned to Fahd Albarraq (Yemen), geologist, Director of the Yemen Geological Museum in Sana'a.
This is the statement of achievements:
"For his valuable contribution in promoting Earth Sciences in society by sharing knowledge, running geological museum without wages since 2016 in a war-torn country, with a socio-economically and politically failed state, where he risks his life every day. As a Pioneer Geological expert, educator and currently teaching geology to more than 500 students/researchers in Yemen and Arabian Peninsula every week, aiming to add value and help all the students wherever practical learning and geological exploration is limited due to scarcity of required resources, Fahd Albarraq endeavors to do his best for keeping open and running the museum without interrupting his geological educational activities.
Fahd Albarraq shares his geological, mineral, environmental knowledge in an easy, attractive and passionate way, through which he offers clear and careful explanations of geological observations without trivializing the content, while always paying great attention to the quality of scientific discourse. His efforts in promoting global sustainable development goals beside promoting geoeducation are much more than a mission to disseminate Earth Sciences knowledge among students and general public. Fahd Albarraq is an excellent example of a passionate geologist who feels and practices his geological activity as a geoethical duty towards society, while working in a war country. A great example of humanity for our future generations."
JGSG published its second article!
The Journal of Geoethics and Social Geoscience published its second, open access, article on 20 March 2023.
We remind you that this journal is dimond open access and is supported by the IAPG. No Article Processing Charge (APC) is requested to authors and no fee is paid by readers.
The article can be cited as follows:
International Women's Day 2023
Invited introductive talk by Silvia Peppoloni (IAPG Secretary General and Chair of the IUGS - Commission on Geoethics) to the 3rd Conference of Peruvian Women in Geosciences, organized by IAPG-Peru to celebrate the International Women's Day, 8 March 2023:
New book on geoethics published in the SpringerBriefs in Geoethics series
Di Capua G. and Oosterbeek L. (2023). Bridges to Global Ethics: Geoethics at the Confluence of Humanities and Sciences. Springer, Cham, VII+115 pp., ISBN 978-3031222221. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22223-8
This book contributes to the current discussion on geoethics and global ethics within the geoscience and humanities communities. It provides new content and insights into developing convergent human actions in response to global anthropogenic changes, based on perspectives that make it possible to combine geoscience knowledge with humanities and social sciences approaches. Selected authors present their reflections, findings and insights regarding the vision of geoethics (ethics of responsibility towards the Earth) as global ethics from philosophical, humanities and social sciences perspectives. In addition, they discuss ethical frameworks from diverse cultural traditions, searching for points of intersection with geoethics.
The goal: for global environmental problems to be managed via multi-perspective approaches that can more effectively accommodate complexity. Combining the strengths of the geosciences, humanities and social sciences can pave the way for a paradigm shift in how human societies develop adaptive, sustainable responses to environmental changes and societal inequalities.
- Download the book front matter (pdf file)
Book on geoethics published by Springer
Peppoloni S. and Di Capua G. (2022). Geoethics: Manifesto for an Ethics of Responsibility Towards the Earth. Springer, Cham, XII+123 pp., ISBN 978-3030980436. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98044-3
This book outlines the current development of geoethical thinking, proposing to the general public reflections and categories useful for understanding the ethical, cultural, and societal dimensions of anthropogenic global changes.
Geoethics identifies and orients responsible behaviors and actions in the management of natural processes, redefining the human interaction with the Earth system based on a critical, scientifically grounded, and pragmatic approach. Solid scientific knowledge and a philosophical reference framework are crucial to face the current ecological disruption. The scientific perspective must be structured to help different human contexts while respecting social and cultural diversity. It is impossible to respond to global problems with disconnected local actions, which cannot be proposed as standard and effective operational models. Geoethics tries to overcome this fragmentation, presenting Earth sciences as the foundation of responsible human action toward the planet. Geoethics is conceived as a rational and multidisciplinary language that can bind and concretely support the international community, engaged in resolving global environmental imbalances and complex challenges, which have no national, cultural, or religious boundaries that require shared governance. Geoethics is proposed as a new reading key to rethinking the Earth as a system of complex relationships, in which the human being is an integral part of natural interactions.
JGSG published its first article!
We are happy to announce that the Journal of Geoethics and Social Geoscience published its first, open access, article on 14 December 2022.
We remind you that this journal is fully open access and is supported by the IAPG. No Article Processing Charge (APC) is requested to authors.
The article can be cited as follows:
Canseco, R., & Bellaubi, F. (2022). Application of geoethics to university education based on a mining geoethical dilemma case study in the Catalonian Potassic Basin (Spain). Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences, 1(1), 1–37. https://doi.org/10.13127/jgsg-24.
IUGS Zumaia Declaration on geological heritage
The IAPG is among the supporting organizations of the Zumaia Declaration on geological heritage that was officially released on 28 October 2022 at the event "First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites" held in Zumaia (Basque Coast, Spain).
In this document, the International Union of Geological Sciences - IUGS declares the following:
Recognizing and preserving Geological Heritage is critical. The IUGS adopts the mission to acknowledge Geological Heritage of highest scientific importance. Collaboration between all international initiatives involved with geoheritage and geodiversity can lead to their further appreciation, to their sustainable use as educational resources, and, most importantly, to their preservation for the good of society, for future generations, and for our Planet’s well-being.
- Download the Zumaia Declaration (pdf file)
- Website of the "First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites"
- More about the "First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites" on the Geoparkea website
IAPG, RIES, and UCCGHA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics, RIES - Research Institute for Earth Sciences – Geological Survey of Iran, and UCCGHA - UNESCO Chair on Coastal Geo-Hazard Analysis signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 26 January 2023.
The aim of the MoU is to develop a coordinated approach, where appropriate, for promoting initiatives and events discussing the ethical, social, and cultural implications of geosciences, with a focus on coastal geo-hazard analysis, and favoring high ethical standards in the research and practice of geoscience in order to better serve the geoscience community and society as a whole.
The MoU expresses a mutual desire to cooperate on a range of themes in the field of geoethics. It helps to assure a continued IAPG–RIES–UCCGHA cooperation and coordination on issues of common interests.
IAPG and GSU signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)
IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics and GSU - Geological Society of Uganda signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on 1 December 2022.
The aim of the MoA is to develop a coordinated approach, where appropriate, for promoting initiatives and events discussing the ethical, social, and cultural implications of geosciences, and favoring high ethical standards in the research and practice of Geoscience in order to better serve the geoscience community and society as a whole.
The agreement expresses a mutual desire to cooperate on a range of themes in the field of geoethics.
Declaration against war and authoritarianism
for the affirmation of human freedom and dignity
Planet Earth, 26th February 2022
The International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG) expresses its solidarity with all the people who are experiencing their present situation with difficulty and fear due to armed conflicts and who are suffering the repression of fundamental freedoms by authoritarian regimes.
We are close to colleagues from our section in Ukraine who are suffering from the invasion of their nation and are trying to resist the barbarism of war. We are also close to those Russian scientists and intellectuals who are courageously manifesting their rejection of war and demanding the right to peace.
Likewise, we cannot forget our colleagues in Myanmar who are experiencing government repression and our colleagues in Afghanistan, including those of the local IAPG section, for the harsh living conditions in which freedom, health and safety are not guaranteed. We are also close to our colleagues in Yemen, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in all those countries in which governments or groups of powers don’t respect the fundamental Human Rights of United Nations.
The IAPG rejects war and oppression for the resolution of conflicts and supports all those who fight for the affirmation of human dignity and for freedom from the oppression of dictatorships and fundamentalisms.
We strongly affirm that all human beings must be guaranteed dignity, freedom and knowledge. Everyone has the right to be able to live in freedom, health and safety and at the same time has the duty to responsibly guarantee freedom, health and safety to other human beings.
We are convinced that power must be implemented as a responsible exercise of community service, for the construction of more just, equitable, inclusive, supportive, peaceful, sustainable and ecologically oriented societies.
The revival of nationalistic models is anachronistic and represents a real threat to humanity, which instead, precisely in the recognition of its unity, albeit in the diversity of the cultures that constitute it, is beginning to cultivate that feeling of planetary citizenship that can accompany it towards a future of solidarity.
We invite the international scientific community, geosciences organizations and beyond, to sign this declaration.
Support this declaration by sending an email to: iapgeoethics@gmail.com
Download the IAPG Declaration
as pdf file
IAPG endorses the eLearning Course "Practical Geocommunication"
Dear IAPG member,
IAPG has recently endorsed the eLearning course ‘Practical Geocommunication’ offered by Geologize Ltd. Geologize teaches geoscientists to bring the public to a great understanding and appreciation of our planet through effective and powerful communication.
To find out more about the course, please check out the following video:
https://youtu.be/jQDZxDZnUC8
As a member of an endorsing association, you now have a 70% discount on the usual course price.
Your unique access code is: iapg-pggz
Here’s how to start your learning experience!
1) Head over to https://training.geologize.org/courses/geocomms
2) Click on 'BUY'
3) Register (Free)
4) Click on the link ‘Have a coupon?’
5) Enter the code above. This applies the 70% discount.
6) Pay the remaining value.
7) Start learning!
The number of times this coupon can be used is limited to the current membership of the IAPG, so I kindly request that it not be shared with those outside the IAPG.
Learners follow the course at their own pace and you will have lessons, quizzes, assignments and the opportunity to interact directly with myself, Dr Haydon Mort. A certificate is provided at the end of the course, with the seals of the IAPG, The Geological Society of London and the European Federation of Geologists, who also endorse the course.
All the best,
Haydon Mort
---------------------------------------------------
Dr. Haydon Mort
CEO-Director Geologize Ltd
Geologist, Science Communicator
Article: Geoethics: The Missing Piece in the Separation of Responsibility Between Volcanologists and Decision-Makers.
It can be cited as follows:
Peppoloni S., Woo G., Martí J., and Di Capua G. (2023). Geoethics: The Missing Piece in the Separation of Responsibility Between Volcanologists and Decision-Makers. In Malheiro A., Fernandes F., Chaminé H.I. (Eds.), Advances in Natural Hazards and Volcanic Risks: Shaping a Sustainable Future. NATHAZ 2022. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham, 19-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25042-2_4.
Article: Geoethics to Face Natural Risks by Improving Societal Resilience.
It can be cited as follows:
Peppoloni S. (2023). Geoethics to Face Natural Risks by Improving Societal Resilience. In Malheiro A., Fernandes F., Chaminé H.I. (Eds.), Advances in Natural Hazards and Volcanic Risks: Shaping a Sustainable Future. NATHAZ 2022. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation. Springer, Cham, 3-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25042-2_1.
Article: Geotourism and geoethics as support for rural development in the Knjaževac municipality, Serbia.
It can be cited as follows:
Marjanović M., Radivojević A.R., Antić A., Peppoloni S., Di Capua G., Lazarević J., Marković R.S., Tomić N., Milićević A.L., Langović Z., Mišić I. and Marković S.B. (2022).
Geotourism and geoethics as support for rural development in the Knjaževac municipality, Serbia.
Open Geosciences, 14(1), 794-812. https://doi.org/10.1515/geo-2022-0388
Article: Sustainable Production of Rare Earth Elements from Mine Waste and Geoethics.
It can be cited as follows:
Jouini M., Royer-Lavallée A., Pabst T., Chung E., Kim R., Cheong Y.-W. and Neculita C.M. (2022).
Sustainable Production of Rare Earth Elements from Mine Waste and Geoethics.
Minerals, 12(7), 809. https://doi.org/10.3390/min12070809
Article: Science and Citizen Collaboration as Good Example of Geoethics for Recovering a Natural Site in the Urban Area of Rome (Italy).
It can be cited as follows:
Procesi M., Di Capua G., Peppoloni S., Corirossi M. and Valentinelli A. (2022)
Science and Citizen Collaboration as Good Example of Geoethics for Recovering a Natural Site in the Urban Area of Rome (Italy)
Sustainability, 14(8), 4429. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084429
Book: Teaching Geoethics
This e-Book was a deliverable of the Erasmus+ project GOAL "Geoethics Outcomes and Awareness Learning". It can be downloaded for free and cited as follows:
Vasconcelos Clara, Schneider-Voß Susanne, and Peppoloni Silvia (Eds.)
Teaching Geoethics
Resources for higher education
2020, U.Porto Edições, 207 pp., https://doi.org/10.24840/978-989-746-254-2
Cape Town Statement on Geoethics
It sums up all the values, concepts, contents developed by IAPG, giving a perspective for the future development of geoethics. Supported by 22 geoscience organizations and available in 35 languages
SpringerBriefs
in Geoethics
It envisions a series of short publications that aim to discuss ethical, social, and cultural implications of geosciences knowledge, education, research, practice and communication.
Geoethical Promise
A Hippocratic-like oath for geoscientists, originally proposed at the 34th IGC-International Geological Congress in Brisbane (Australia). Translated in 35 languages
Journal of Geoethics and Social Geosciences
Articles on the ethical, social and cultural implications of geosciences, and on study and research aimed at accompanying safe and sustainable development policies for human communities, transdisciplinary food for thoughts and proposals aimed at addressing global anthropogenic changes
Ethical Considerations for Responsible Geological Fieldwork and Sampling
(by Enrico Cameron, Italy)
"Geological fieldwork and sampling play a crucial role in broadening our comprehension of the Earth’s complexities. Geoscientists should conduct these activities ethically, with respect for both the natural world and the communities they engage with. This responsibility becomes even more crucial when working on Indigenous lands, where acknowledging the historical context and upholding cultural values are paramount"
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
The Indigenous Groundwater Declaration of the Australian Chapter of the IAH
(by Enrico Cameron, Italy)
"In November 2022 the Australian Chapter of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) has put forward the Indigenous Groundwater Declaration to foster the respect and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in groundwater activities, deliberations, decisions, and policies."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
On the Ground: Ending the Hell of Scotland’s Conifer Plantations
(by Patrick Phillips, Scotland, United Kingdom)
"When one encounters a plantation in Scotland one has not entered into an ethical space (nor holistic) they have entered into a kind of ontological hell. Hell, for every pre-existing and existing ecosystem that enabled life to flourish in the first place and hell for our Scottish communities through persistent transient sensations. Plantations are critically therefore not natural forests, as one might assume at first glance but instead a form (therefore space) of ‘modern’ alienation."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
An exploration: from the history of science for geo-philosophical studies
(by Martin Bohle, Germany)
"This essay has an educational objective: the tools for geo-philosophical enquiries, i.e., studies in geoethics. In the first instance, geoethics emerged as an intra-disciplinary endeavour in responsible geosciences. During the last few years, geoethics’ scope expanded [1] [2]. Therefore, my study programme is aggregating insights from other disciplines, iteratively reconstructing geo-philosophical enquiries, and continuously consolidating philosophical foundations. ..."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
The era of crises: facing the choices to build the future
(by Silvia Peppoloni, Italy)
"For about fifteen years I have been dedicated to the development and promotion of geoethics around the world. When I speak of geoethics, I refer to an ethics of responsibility of the human being towards the Earth system; a geosophy, a "knowledge" of the functioning of the Earth, which in the human being translates into Aristotelian phronesis, a wisdom capable of directing choices, a wisdom of living the Earth, which presupposes the awareness of the human position and condition in the great natural architecture. ..."
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
Ontology as the quality or essence of existence
(by Patrick Phillips, Scotland, United Kingdom)
Patrick Phillips, writer, artist and environmental guide offers us his personal vision of the deep relationship that binds humans to nature, through his experience of life in a mountain village in Scotland with a short introduction to his book "Eternal Mountain: Essays from Afar" (Expressive Press, June 2021).
Read the article in the IAPG Blog
Teaching Geoethics
Research Integrity
Books on Geoethics
White Papers
In evidence
The Global Risks Report 2023
(Insight Report, 18th Edition. In partnership with Marsh & McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group)
World Economic Forum, 2023
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
(Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)])
February, 2022
Biodiversity and Climate Change
Scientific Outcome of the IPBES-IPCC co-sponsored workshop
June 2021
In the Section 4.2 "Human and Social Dimensions" (page 49) you can read the following sentences, that include also the definition of geoethics by IAPG:
"Ethical behaviour with respect to nature (“geoethics”) is at the core of several discussions regarding adaptation. The values which underpin appropriate behaviours and practices wherever human activities interact with the Earth system play an important role in the awareness of society regarding problems with biodiversity and NCP. Ethical, social, and cultural implications of both scientific knowledge and humankind’s role as an active geological force on the planet and the ethical responsibility that this implies need to be addressed in every plan of action (Bobrowsky et al., 2017). This includes equity issues linked to biodiversity related interventions. These are often not distributionally neutral and have equity implications both within and between generations."
The paper on geoethics cited in the document is:
Bobrowsky, P., Cronin, V. S., Di Capua, G., Kieffer, S. W., & Peppoloni, S. (2017). The emerging field of geoethics. Sci. Integr. Ethics Geosci, 73, 175.
This paper can be read here:
Lisbon Declaration on Humanities, Open Research and Innovation
Result of the European Humanities Conference 2021
Lisbon, 7 May 2021
This document is supported by the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics
Guidelines for geoconservation in protected and conserved areas
(by Crofts R., Gordon J.E., Brilha J., Gray M., Gunn J., Larwood J., Santucci V.L., Tormey D., and Worboys G.L.)
Best Practice Protected Area Guidelines Series No. 31. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. ISBN 978-2-8317-2079-1, doi:10.2305/IUCN.CH.2020.PAG.31.en.
IUCN - International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2020
Global Research Report
Research Integrity: Understanding our shared responsibility for a sustainable scholarly ecosystem
(by Szomszor M. and Quaderi N., Institute for Scientific Information)
October 2020
Promoting Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Oil, Gas and Mining Extractive Industries
A Women’s Human Rights Report
(by R. Park, B. Metzger, and L. Foreman)
The Advocates for Human Rights, January 2019
White Paper on Citizen Science for Europe
(by Sanz F.S., Holocher-Ertl T., Kieslinger B., Sanz García F. and Silva C.G.)
European Commission, 2014
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
On 25 September 2015, countries adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved over the next 15 years.
Latest (click on the picture):
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Survey on The Culture and Ethics of Geologic Sampling
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Yuriy Kostyuchenko passed away on 16 March 2023
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Minigeology interviewed Peter Bobrowsky on geoethics
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IAPG endorses the Jena Declaration
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IAPG is partner of the Earth Future Festival (EFF)
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The International Geodiversity Day was established by UNESCO
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MinerLima 2022
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Peace, serenity and health for the holiday season and new year (25 December 2022)
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Peter Bobrowsky awarded by the IUGS
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Croatian Geological Society supports the Cape Town Statement on Geoethics and provided its translation in Croatian