President's Page: Energy transition offers bright future for geoscientists

Abstract

As the world's population continues to grow and economies develop, there will be a commensurate need for additional energy supply that is sustainable and that can be acquired while respecting the environment. The Middle East, home to some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves, is one of the most important regions globally for energy production and exports. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are key players in the global oil market, while Qatar is a major exporter of liquified natural gas. Fossil fuels will continue to play a major role in the region's — and the world's — energy mix for the foreseeable future, but there is growing interest in developing renewable energy sources such as solar, wind power, and geothermal.