Earth sciences have a central role to play in addressing elemental issues of global significance. These include the exploration, development and use of the earth’s surface and natural resources under the dramatically rising pressure of the population (water, soil, energy resources, metal ores, rocks and earth). Further issues are the assessment of geo risks, the development of new materials and procedures, especially in the fields of energy efficiency and environmental protection, climate change of the earth and the resulting consequences for physical, geochemical, ecological and economic processes of the earth’s surface.