Geological key issues for today's societies are:
Water cycle: Understanding the water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, and water resources on Earth, is crucial for society. It describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth. These processes happen in the blink of an eye and over millions of years.

Geohazards
The societal impact of geohazards is enormous. The Earth can be a dangerous place, and is often made more dangerous by human intervention. The accurate assessment and communication of risks are crucial to minimise the hazard potential from different geological threats facing people all over the world.

Earth Resources
Knowledge on natural resources and their management is the frontline of the struggle for more sustainable and equitable development. Their exploitation constitutes the primary source of livelihoods for most of the world's population. As human population increases, pressure on these resources are also increasing which requires proper management.

Global change and life evolution
Climate change impacts on water supplies, wildlife, the environment, and human society. Understanding climate trends, relies heavily upon the preserved geological record of many rock types. By studying this record, Earth scientists are understanding in increasing detail how the climate works, how it has behaved in the past and how it may behave in future.

Deep Earth
To understand some of the movement we see at the Earth's surface, scientists examine the deep interior of our planet by observing different seismic waves from earthquakes as they travel through the planet. give us a detailed insight into the geological structures and tectonic processes that shape the crust. They are therefore relevant to natural resource exploration, the distribution and management of groundwater resources and the study and mitigation of natural hazards such as earthquakes. They define the processes that control the evolution of the landscape and soils.