Global investment and dependency on space activities are increasing rapidly. Such trends underline the need to ensure space activities are sustainable over the long-term. As the UN’s dedicated space entity, UNOOSA sits at the crossroads of the global space community and is well placed to bring together both private and public stakeholders from across the community on the subject. The Promoting Space Sustainability Project seeks to raise global awareness of the importance of space sustainability and foster related capacity-building services for emerging space-faring nations.
The Project is delivered in the context of the landmark Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability Outer Space activities of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (the LTS Guidelines), adopted by COPUOS in 2019. The LTS Guidelines, welcomed with appreciation by the UN General Assembly in 2019, include a preamble and 21 voluntary guidelines that address; a) policy and regulatory framework; b) safety of space operations; c) international cooperation, capacity building and awareness; and d) scientific and technical research and development.”
It is this context that the Promoting Space Sustainability Project would like to drive attention to the urgency of responsible and sustainable behaviour in outer space, and to recognize the impact of our activities today, to ensure our capabilities for tomorrow.