Beyond hotspots: systemic barriers and equitable pathways to global geothermal power
Original framing: “How to unlock unlimited geothermal energy, anywhere we want” — New Scientist
Communities near potential sites—often low‑income, Indigenous, or rural—report concerns about water contamination, loss of grazing land, and lack of profit sharing. Their testimonies, documented in participatory research, reveal a pattern of exclusion from decision‑making that mirrors other extractive industries. Elevating these voices is crucial for just transition planning.
Geothermal energy’s promise cannot be realized by engineering alone; it demands a restructuring of power relations, financing, and knowledge systems that have historically marginalized the very communities most affected by extraction.
Indigenous stewardship, community ownership, and transparent climate‑finance mechanisms together can transform geothermal from a speculative commodity into a just, resilient energy source. Scientific advances in enhanced geothermal systems must be coupled with cross‑cultural governance models that embed consent, benefit‑sharing, and cultural reverence for Earth’s heat. By learning from historical patterns of resource colonisation and employing trickster insights that reveal hidden contradictions, policymakers can design pathways that balance technological potential with social equity and ecological integrity.