While the geosciences are interdisciplinary in nature, they are not demographically diverse, which challenges the future viability and relevance of the geosciences. Causes and potential solutions for this deficiency have been proposed for several decades, but diversity within the geosciences has barely changed in that time. Dominant cultural, historical, and socioeconomic factors contribute to the lack of diversity and those factors only change slowly over generations. Solutions proposed for more immediate changes have been ineffective. Providing specific emotional support to those who are systemically non-dominant (SND) will be more impactful in improving diversity and inclusion within the geosciences. Specifically, we focus on intergroup emotions, which can be pleasant or unpleasant emotions that individuals feel due to their identification with one or more social groups. Using the Intergroup Emotions Theory, we argue that diversity and inclusion can be improved by helping those who are SND minimize undesirable emotions that arise when their group memberships are perceived to be negative. We end by making recommendations based on available research, yet we strongly call on the geoscience community to conduct further discipline-based research in this crucial area in the near future.