Geological work is a vital precursor and foundational component of national economic and social development. In the face of unprecedented global and historical transformations, how China's geological efforts can adapt to these changes and support economic and social progress has become a major question of our time. This study analyzes the emerging global trends confronting geological work across the dimensions of resources, spatial planning, ecology, and technology. Geological survey agencies in major countries around the world are meeting the development needs of strategic emerging industries by conducting surveys and assessments of clean and low-carbon energy and critical mineral resources. Through environmental geology surveys, geological hazard investigations, and related work, they are promoting sustainable economic and social development. By applying information technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence, they are reshaping modern geological practices. Meanwhile, by strengthening interdisciplinary integration, they are advancing the Earth system science. Based on the actual geological work in China, the following development suggestions are proposed: (1) based on the traditional geological work in the field of mineral resources, strengthening the research on the supply of energy and mineral resources under the climate and geopolitical constraints; (2) solving the problems of water resources, water ecology, and water disasters under the conditions of climate change; (3) promoting geological disaster survey and research to support services for disaster prevention and mitigation and territorial spatial planning; (4) providing systematic geological solutions for the construction of resilient cities; (5) strengthening the research on marine geological survey for the construction of a strong ocean country; (6) strengthening the ecological geological surveys to guarantee the bottom line of ecological security; and (7) building a new system of geological science and technology that combines deep geological exploration and research with shallow geological process survey and research.