The UK foremost research agencies and institutes have come together to launch the National Research Organisations (NRO) Group. The NRO Group is a trusted partner for government, academia and industry, providing a unified and authoritative perspective on science, policy and research investment to make research matter.

The NRO Group has been formed to address fragmentation across the UK research landscape and unlock the full potential of national research organisations. This will involve clearer governance, strategic alignment and better visibility of these unique capabilities. By creating an authoritative, collegiate voice and a trusted interface, the NRO Group ensures science-based insight informs decisions and connects major national priorities to improve people lives, boost growth and ensure security and resilience, while also driving progress toward net zero and UK environmental goals.

Research and development are essential to building a better Britain. From new treatments for cancer to breakthroughs in clean energy or developing the computers of the future, the path to a stronger economy and society will be dependent on science and innovation.

There has never been a better time for the UK’s research institutes and public research bodies to pull together. By aligning their capabilities to deliver maximum impact, the NRO Group will be a key part of our efforts to ensure that science and technology benefits everyone.

Lord Vallance, Science Minister.

51ÁÔÆæ has a long history of working closely with fellow research institutes and organisations, and we are delighted to be part of the National Research Organisations Group. Geoscience has a crucial role to play in addressing societal challenges and enabling economic growth and we look forward to continuing our work as part of this initiative, delivering geoscience for benefit of society.

Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director.

The NRO Group brings together many agencies and institutes that provide unique national and international capabilities. Their principal purpose is to perform curiosity-driven and focused full-time research, from searching for new antibiotics to the clean jet engines of the future. The group is underpinned by a formal partnership agreement, to generate maximum value for the economy, security and the lives of people.

I’ve worked with many national research organisations over the last 25 years and have consistently been inspired by how their science improves lives, drives growth and ensures our national security. Through the new NRO Group, we aim to do even more good for the nation and our people.

Dr Stuart Wainwright, director of the NRO Group and CEO of the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

Find out more

In January 2025, the National Brownfield Forum (NBF) set up a task and finish group to gather evidence on the policies affecting the planning and development of brownfield land. The research is summarised in a new report (), supported by BGS, which is aimed at Government ministers, policymakers and senior business leaders interested in the growth and investment missions for brownfield-led housing and infrastructure.

The NBF is an active group of over 30 public and private members, originally set up in 2011 by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), now the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The forum focuses on knowledge sharing around the sustainable re-use of land.

The NBF is administered by the charity as secretariat and a two-year rolling chair.

This project was a great example of how both the public and private sector can work collaboratively together for the benefit of the brownfield industry.

Nicola Harries, technical director at CL:AIRE.

The report findings demonstrate the need to improve how environmental and planning policies in England interact to support the planning and development of brownfield land. The evidence collected suggests that this will increase the amount of brownfield land that is being successfully re-used for housing and infrastructure.

The NBF research demonstrates a shared and strong commitment to the sustainable development of brownfield land and support for an active policy landscape.

Dr Darren Beriro, current NBF chair and principal geoscientist at BGS.

51ÁÔÆæ supported the work using its National Capability funding. The report published by CL:AIRE on behalf of the NBF, is now available to download, as are the .

The latest UK Criticality Assessment, , focuses on the vulnerability to supply disruption of minerals in an increasingly diversified UK economy. The analysis is intended to support policymakers in building economic resilience and securing minerals of importance to the UK economy and national security.

Critical minerals are essential in a wide range of products we rely on for our energy, transportation, home and work lives, defence and health care. The assessment was commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as part of the CMIC programme for 2024.

Criticality assessments are similar to risk assessments in that they aim to produce an evaluation of the potential for the disruption of the supply of minerals and the resulting economic impact. Indicators are quantified from a range of relevant metrics derived from reliable and publicly available data. Through this methodology, the assessment provides insights on the various factors that contribute to supply risk.

The assessment builds on data used in a range of areas, including:

• diplomatic efforts to secure stable trade relationships
• supporting improved recycling capabilities as part of a more circular economy
• further investment in exploration, mining and processing
• the pursuit of alternative materials

Dr Gavin Mudd, director of the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre, said that the assessment demonstrates the increasingly complex supply chains the UK relies on to support its economic activity.

This assessment confirms that the growing diversification of the UK economy — alongside the expanding reliance on global trade — brings an increasing vulnerability in terms of disruption to the supply of critical minerals.

There are similarities to other criticality assessment lists across the world, but the demands and challenges facing the UK economy are dynamic and we need to match the demand for minerals with sustainable and reliable supply.

Dr Gavin Mudd, CMIC Director.

I welcome the Critical Mineral Intelligence Centre assessment, which shows a sustainable supply of critical minerals will be more vital than ever.

That why next year we’ll launch a new Critical Minerals Strategy to help secure our supply chains for the long term and drive forward the green industries of the future.

Sarah Jones MP, Industry Minister.

UK Criticality Assessment 2024: 10 most critical minerals

The finds that 34 minerals out of the 82 candidate materials assessed are ‘critical’. This is an increase relative to the 2021 assessment, where only 26 candidate materials were assessed and 18 assessed as critical.

Of the 18 minerals classed as critical on the 2021 list, 17 remain critical in this new assessment — palladium is now below the criticality threshold — whilst notable additions in 2024 include nickel, iron, germanium, aluminium and chromium (plus others). The new list reflects the increased scope of assessment and the advances in the methodology used.

Dr Gavin Mudd, the director of CMIC, says the study has highlighted the diverse UK economy, driven by clean energy technology like wind turbines and electric vehicles and an increase in advanced manufacturing applications.

In particular, as the UK continues its efforts in decarbonisation of its economy, we are seeing significant shifts in numerous minerals as coal-fired power has now been closed and new technologies are being used. This brings both benefits and risks to the UK.

Dr Gavin Mudd, CMIC Director.

The report highlights several issues that should be the focus of further consideration.

Technology-driven mineral demand

The pursuit of new energy and transport technologies lies at the heart of decarbonisation efforts and is creating significant demand for additional critical minerals. These include the use of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles or rare earth elements used in the permanent magnets in drive trains for electric vehicles and wind turbines. Other sectors fueling technical advances through the use of critical minerals includes aerospace and defence, which require specialist alloys that can withstand extreme conditions, whilst the rise in the use of artificial intelligence and the linked demand on large data centres has also prompted a considerable increase in the demand for minerals with a high criticality score within the assessment.

Decarbonisation effects on mineral demand

With an intrinsic link between climate change and the extraction of minerals, the drive to achieve net zero commitments and the transition towards a low-carbon society, reducing our carbon emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels will require a greater global supply of minerals. It is recognised that the manufacture of technologies such as wind turbines and electric vehicles is a mineral-intensive process and, as such, the mineral demand for these clean energy technologies is anticipated to increase significantly. Some estimates suggest a quadrupling of demand by 2040 in a scenario in which net zero carbon emissions are achieved by 2050. Clean energy technologies are the predominant driver of growth in demand for many critical minerals.

Trade regulations and global supply risks

Trade regulations can significantly disrupt global critical mineral supply chains and trade, therefore carrying the potential to cause shortages and price volatility. The extent of any disruption on the supply of critical minerals would depend on the nature of the regulations, their timing and the duration of their application. As the UK economy is demonstrably more vulnerable to disruption in the flow of key materials from international markets, it is also more vulnerable to the effects of global trade measures and regulations. Furthermore, the UK critical minerals refining and manufacturing capacity being in its nascent stages potentially heightens this vulnerability.

Recycling potential

The ability to employ recycling as a means to bolster supply for the candidate materials assessed in this study varies significantly, ranging from zero to a maximum of 95 per cent. The UK imports and exports waste and scrap flows for a range of materials, derived from related processing and manufacturing activities. Overall, the area of recycling needs a greater capacity to synthesise data, monitor material flows through the economy and explore opportunities to improve the circularity of the UK economy.

Climate change and its impact on global supply risks

Climate change poses significant risks to the global supply of critical metals and minerals needed for clean energy technologies and the transition to a low-carbon economy. At present, it is causing more frequent extreme weather events than ever before, such as drought, heat, flooding and changing precipitation patterns. All these events have a direct impact on mining operations and minerals processing and transportation. Climate change risks could potentially impede the trajectory of clean energy transitions if the supply of critical metals cannot meet rapidly growing demand, and may have a significant impact on the economy’s ability to implement low-carbon technologies like solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicle batteries.

The full UK 2024 criticality assessment is available to download through the CMIC website.

51ÁÔÆæ and The Geological Society of London have accepted an invitation from the Government Office for Science (GO-Science) to launch a new network after its report, ‘’, called for improved cross-sectoral work to address future issues.

The network, ‘Future of the Subsurface Community of Interest’, is set to be a community of decision makers from Government departments, local authorities, regulators and others in the public sector involved in subsurface policy and planning. It will serve as a forum for exchanging knowledge on subsurface issues to improve coordination and regulation and allow more effective management of the subsurface and the services it provides.

Use of the subsurface has been vital to people for thousands of years. The availability of subsurface resources, such as water, fertile soil and building materials, has long influenced where we choose to live. The UK diverse geology also plays a significant role in shaping its landscape and influences various aspects of land use, planning and society.

The subsurface is a natural space for the infrastructure that underpins society. We have developed methods to use and exploit the subsurface in a multitude of different ways, such as for natural resources and space for infrastructure, which deliver a range of societal benefits.

The Foresight study not only highlights the future need for the subsurface to deliver net zero technologies and climate adaptation measures; it also emphasises the challenge of implementing cross-sectoral solutions and the issue of incomplete and inconsistent regulation, which limit future options.

We will work alongside The Geological Society to ensure that we fulfil the need highlighted in the report, to facilitate a shared understand across decision makers of the value of the subsurface for the long-term public good.

Stephanie Bricker, head of urban geoscience and spatial planning, BGS

Informed and effective public policy relies on access to timely, digestible and relevant scientific evidence. By working with the 51ÁÔÆæ to facilitate this Community of Interest, we aspire to support those working across the breadth of subsurface policy and planning to engage with the best available geoscience and promote informed decision making.

Dr Megan O’Donnell, head of policy and communications at The Geological Society

Find out more about Go-Science report, the Future of the Subsurface Foresight.

Contact
For enquiries about the Community of Interest please contact FutureSubsurface@bgs.ac.uk

For media enquiries, please contact the BGS Press Office (bgspress@bgs.ac.uk) or call 07790 607 010.

Forty-four academic fellows have been selected as part of UK Research and Innovation (51ÁÔÆæ)’s policy fellowship programme to work in 21 government departments and five What Works centres across the UK.

Roxana Ciurean, a geohazard scientist in the Multi-hazards and resilience science area at BGS, has been selected as one of these fellows, who are set to play a crucial role in enhancing policymaking and contributing to a more secure and resilient society.

For the next 18 months, Roxana’s research will centre around understanding how integrated emergency management (IEM) principles are applied in practice, especially in policy development, planning and response to disruptive events. Through mixed methods, research and collaboration with government officials, stakeholders and the public, she aims to provide valuable insights to enhance Scotland’s resilience capabilities.

I am delighted to be part of this transformative fellowship and to be working closely with the Scottish Government. It an incredible opportunity to utilise research evidence in response to real-world challenges, influencing policy development and making a positive impact on the safety and well-being of our communities.

Roxana Ciurean, BGS Geohazard Scientist.

Funding

Since it was piloted in 2021, the 51ÁÔÆæ policy fellowships programme has more than doubled in scale and expanded the range of research disciplines. The 2023 scheme is funded by the , the and the .

A Government White Paper entitled ‘The case for deep geothermal energy — unlocking investment at scale in the UK‘ was commissioned by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and funded by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. Written by BGS and Arup in July 2023, it provided an evidence-based assessment of the opportunities and made recommendations for building the deep geothermal sector in the UK.

51ÁÔÆæ has subsequently written and released this supplementary , funded by UK Research and Innovation (51ÁÔÆæ), that underpins the White Paper and provides the original outputs from the North East LEP commission as well as additional information, including:

• a review of the international geothermal landscape, including financial incentives, risk sharing and regulation
• a more detailed assessment of UK geothermal prospects, including new data and analyses from recent BGS studies
• potential regional economic and social impacts of geothermal energy and how deployment could contribute to UK policy goals
• an analysis of key challenges within the context of international geothermal experiences
• descriptions of the methodologies adopted in developing the White Paper, including stakeholder engagement, and how evidence was collected, analysed and translated into a set of recommendations

Together, the evidence report and the White Paper highlight opportunities where deep geothermal energy could:

• help the UK meet its net zero objectives
• increase energy supply security
• deliver economic benefits
• create the green jobs of the future

Under the amended UK Climate Change Act, a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases of at least 80 per cent from 1990 levels is necessary to reach net zero targets by 2050.

Geothermal energy, the energy generated and stored in the form of heat in rocks, groundwater and soils, can provide a unique opportunity to deliver a low-carbon source for heating, cooling and power generation.

This evidence report provides underpinning evidence, background, and data for the White Paper, which highlights the opportunities where deep geothermal energy could help the UK meet its net zero objectives.

Dr Corinna Abesser, BGS Director of Policy and lead author of the report.

Since its publication in July 2023, the White Paper has been updated to include a foreword by Lord Callanan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, DESNZ.

More information

Contact the BGS press office:

• email Lucy Bloor (bgspress@bgs.ac.uk)
• phone Lucy on 07745667169

Financial stress tests

The have been designed to ensure that banks, insurers and lenders are resilient enough to cope with severe economic conditions. In 2021 the 2021 Climate Biennial Exploratory Scenario (CBES) was carried out to test resilience against physical risks associated with different climate change scenarios.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoClimate is our flagship climate change geohazard dataset which assesses the susceptibility of lithologies to shrink-swell subsidence considering different climate change scenarios.This allows organisations to assess their portfolios for potential future ground instability risks and develop mitigation plans accordingly.

In 2021, BGS GeoClimate utilised UKCP18 climate projection data to offer susceptibility projections for RCP8.5. In order to better support future stress testing and policy changes BGS is developing an additional BGS GeoClimate update which deploys EURO-CORDEX climate simulations to deliver shrink-swell subsidence susceptibility projections. This will include data for RCPs 2.6, 4.5 and 8.5. (Keep an eye out for our upcoming product launch and blog post aimed at demystifying climate projections.)

Conveyancing regulations

Earlier this year the Law Society for England and Wales announced , which placed the onus on solicitors to ‘advise on physical climate risks and how they impact real estate ownership and use’. BGS GeoClimate can play a key role in advising conveyancers and property search companies on potential future subsidence threats.

51ÁÔÆæ GeoCoast is a coastal geohazard data package containing future coastal inundation scenarios and an assessment of the erodibility of the GB coastline. With sea levels predicted to rise into the future BGS GeoCoast is a powerful tool to satisfy policy requirements and identify properties which are likely to be impacted by these geohazards in the future. BGS GeoCoast has been specifically designed to be integrated with shoreline management plan areas to support local authorities in implementing their region-specific policies.

National adaptation planning

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities ran a consultation period from December 2022 to March 2023 regarding proposed changes to the . BGS responded to this consultation, a component of which focused on tackling climate change. The consultation made little mention of geohazards but stated that ‘Any changes needed for adaptation in the National Planning Policy Framework will include considering any changes required to reflect the third National Adaptation Programme, governments policy response to the latest assessment of UK climate risk.’ Defra has since published the (NAP3), which identifies 61 climate risks and opportunities, including geohazards such as:

• groundwater flooding and scarcity
• coastal erosion
• subsidence
• aquifer contamination from saltwater intrusions
• threats to soils and agricultural productivity
• river erosion.

51ÁÔÆæ has compiled a and covers a host of geohazards, focusing on those identified by NAP3.

These include groundwater vulnerability datasets for England, Wales and Scotland and 51ÁÔÆæ GeoScour , a national river erosion susceptibility data package which identifies river beds and banks prone to erosion that is a valuable tool for any forward-looking assessment of threats to riverside assets and infrastructure.

More information

Although this is by no means an exhaustive list of either the evolving policies across all UK sectors or the BGS geoscience and datasets available to support their implementation, we hope that this has provided a useful insight into how BGS data holdings can be applied. If you would like to find out more or have a specific query please see our 51ÁÔÆæ geohazards and climate change position statement, which provides a review of current BGS geohazard-related activities that consider our changing climate within a UK context. You can also get in touch with the digital data team (digitaldata@bgs.ac.uk).

About the author

Dr Corinna Abesser has been appointed as the new BGS Policy Director from 3 April 2023.

Corinna has more than 20 years’ experience in environmental and energy-related research, with projects relating to resource assessment and sustainable use, environmental impacts, policy and regulation.

Currently, she holds the post of head of geothermal energy at BGS, where she has developed and led a portfolio of applied research to advance geothermal knowledge in the UK as well as to inform and influence policy by identifying knowledge gaps and establishing collaborations. Between 2021 and 2022, Corinna also held an academic parliamentary fellowship with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST).

As policy director, Corinna will lead BGS interaction with policymakers at all levels of government. This includes coordinating the BGS response to relevant policy priorities, as well as advocacy in bringing key geoscience-related issues to the attention of the policy community. She will assist BGS staff in using their science outputs to inform policy and regulation and advise senior management on policy-related issues that impact the delivery of the BGS Strategy.

In her new role, Corinna will also join the 51ÁÔÆæ Senior Management Board and contribute to setting strategic corporate priorities for BGS. This responsibility includes planning, implementation, day-to-day leadership and management of BGS, as well as leading and contributing to corporate working groups and committees.

I am really excited to be taking on the role of BGS Policy Director and look forward to engaging with policymakers across the UK to ensure BGS science and research is available to our key decision makers. As a keen advocate of evidence-based decision making, I will support colleagues across the organisation to identify and pursue opportunities for informing policy and regulation to ensure our research delivers the highest possible impact.

Dr Corinna Abesser, new BGS Policy Director.

On behalf of BGS and the BGS Board, we are delighted to welcome Corinna to her new role. Corinna brings a wealth of experience in policy and regulation to the position and is well-placed to take the lead in enhancing our relationship with the large policy community in the UK and its nations.

Dr Karen Hanghøj, BGS Director.