Geoscience: GIANT solutions for a sustainable future

September 2024 marks the beginning of the French Geoscience Year. Organized in partnership by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and French National Education, the event combines research and teaching to highlight the scope and importance of the domain. Covering all fields of science related to planet Earth, the scope of geoscience research is vast. Equally consequential, therefore, is the importance of the domain. Geoscience knowledge ensures the continued provision of most of the resources we need to survive, including clean water and air, fertile soils and a reliable supply of energy. Expertise in geoscience underpins the construction of major infrastructure, in addition to the provision of vital services such as waste management and environmental remediation. The critical relevance of geoscience has been brought into even sharper focus by the major societal challenges of our time, all of which have significant geoscience components. Understanding how the Earth works and how life has evolved over hundreds of millions of years is essential for the development of strategies to address both current and future challenges and thus secure a sustainable future for humanity and the vital ecosystems of our planet.