Access to, control over and use of resources such as land, water, food and energy are at the heart of “resource politics,” as is the exposure to harm from disasters such as floods and droughts. Policy decisions and on-the-ground practices often allocate abundant resources to some influential groups, whilst marginalized groups simultaneously experience resource scarcity and exclusion. Therefore, the distribution of benefits, costs and risks raises questions of social and environmental justice, as well as the accountability and transparency of state decision-makers and power non-state actors. In this research theme, we emphasize the legitimacy of diverse perspectives and the value of many forms of knowledge, including local knowledge, towards the inclusive, fair and sustainable governance of resources.