EU initiative goes underground

摘要

Developing the way we use subsurface resources has had a major influence on the way we live our lives today. Groundwater has proven to be vital to Europe's agricultural sector, and the food industry in general, and clean groundwater is a prerequisite for life as we know it. Much of our energy is traditionally derived from fossil fuels, nuclear fuels and, increasingly, from geothermal sources. Mineral raw materials are key to almost every aspect of our daily life, whether as fertilisers, construction materials or raw materials for a myriad of everyday goods. There is also the large economic contribution to society's welfare and the creation of millions of jobs in Europe across sectors such as mining and quarrying. In short, as a society we are heavily dependent on the availability of subsurface resources.