ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly overviews governance of the main categories of subsurface resources: groundwater, geo-energy, mineral materials and space. Exploitation and use of these resources are highly diverse, and so is their governance. In spite of very significant efforts being spent, governance flaws and deficiencies can be observed virtually anywhere around the world. Increasing intensity and diversity of human subsurface activities are making the subsurface steadily more crowded and potentially lead to ever-expanding interferences and external impacts. More than any of the other subsurface resources are groundwater resources vulnerable to hazards produced by the extraction and use of other subsurface resources. Current governance of the subsurface resources is still highly fragmented; more coordination, especially by making linkages and creating synergy and transparency, will certainly bear fruit. A few options for moving towards coordinated governance of the subsurface are presented.
