EGU Geoethics Working Group (EGU-GWG)
The Geoethics Working Group (GWG) of the European Geosciences Union (EGU) is active since March 2026, following the approval of its establishment and its members by the EGU Council.
Aim
The EGU Geoehics Working Group aims to serve as a catalyst for the development and coordination of initiatives within the EGU framework that address key geoethical challenges.
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Mission
The EGU Geoethics Working Group will foster awareness, reflection, and action, advise the EGU Council on the ethical, social, and cultural dimensions of the geosciences, and promote responsible conduct among geoscientists in their research, professional practice, and interactions with society and the Earth system.
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Strategy
By identifying and addressing pressing geoethical issues, such as geoengineering, deep-sea mining, natural hazard management and communication, and the evolving role of geosciences, the EGU Geoethics Working Group seeks to guide the meaningful integration of geoethics into the EGU’s scientific, educational, and policy-related activities. This also includes engaging with complex challenges at the intersection of science, society, and the environment, such as environmental and climate justice, intergenerational equity, and the ethical responsibilities of geoscientists in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future. Through this integrative approach, the EGU WG on Geoethics aims to promote ethical awareness, foster responsible research and innovation, and support the development of policies and educational frameworks that reflect the broader societal relevance of geosciences.​
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Activities
The activities of the EGU Geoethics Working Group are designed to (1) mainstream geoethical thinking within EGU scientific programmes, (2) equip geoscientists, especially early-career scientists, with practical ethical tools, (3) foster international collaboration with a focus on geoethics across geoscience organizations, and (4) translate community insight into guidance for science, policy, and society. These objectives will be pursued through four complementary and mutually reinforcing streams of activity: Sessions, Short Courses, International Meetings, and Position Papers. Each of these objectives will contribute to the advancement and consolidation of geoethics within the EGU community and beyond.
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Website of EGU official bodies:
Members
Chair: Silvia Peppoloni
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome (Italy)
International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG)
IUGS Commission on Geoethics
CIPSH Chair on Geoethics
Email: silvia.peppoloni@ingv.it
​Member: David Crookall
Université Internationale de la Mer (France)
International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG)
Editor: Geoscience Communication
Email: gc.crookall@gmail.com
​Member: Giuseppe Di Capua
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Rome (Italy)
International Association for Promoting Geoethics (IAPG)
IUGS Commission on Geoethics
Email: giuseppe.dicapua@ingv.it
​Member: Jens Klump
CSIRO - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Australia)
Email: jens.klump@csiro.au
Member: Ioanna Triantafyllou
Hellenic Mediterranean University (Greece)
Email: ioannatriantafyllou@yahoo.gr
Office contact: Philippe Courtial
Executive Director of the European Geosciences Union (EGU)
Email: executive-director@egu.eu
What is the EGU
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The European Geosciences Union (EGU) is the leading organisation for Earth, planetary and space science research in Europe. With its partner organisations worldwide, the EGU fosters fundamental geoscience research, alongside applied research that addresses key societal and environmental challenges. EGU vision is to realise a sustainable and just future for humanity and for the planet.
It is a non-profit international union of scientists with about 23,500 members from all over the world. Membership is open to individuals who are professionally engaged in or associated with geosciences and planetary and space sciences and related studies, including students and retired seniors.
The EGU publishes a number of diverse scientific journals, which use an innovative open access format, and organises topical meetings, and education and outreach activities. It also honours scientists with a number of awards and medals. The annual EGU General Assembly is the largest and most prominent European geosciences event, attracting over 21,000 scientists from all over the world in the year 2025. The meeting’s sessions cover a wide range of topics, including volcanology, planetary exploration, the Earth’s internal structure and atmosphere, climate, as well as energy and resources.
The EGU was established in September 2002 as a merger of the European Geophysical Society (EGS) and the European Union of Geosciences (EUG), and has headquarters in Munich, Germany.
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