Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space: Role of Sustainable Development Goals and Its Legal Consequences

Kumar V, Raju KD and Subramanian SR

Published on: 2023-10-23

Abstract

Celestial bodies have always been part of the process of volatile natural phenomena. The problem of collusion and encroaching paths of each other and interference of comets and dust has been a forming part of space debris. Things have become riskier with humans' entry. This has generated a genuine apprehension of damage to the adverse environment of outer space. In this connection, UNCOPUOS has been working on the agenda of sustainable space. In 2010, the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of UNCOPUOS created a Working Group on the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities to develop a consolidated set of voluntary, non-binding guidelines for the States, international organizations, and private entities to ensure sustainable space. In this regard, the partnership of Avio (an Italian aerospace company) with UNOOSA concluded during the 74th Session of the UNGA on September 23, 2019, aimed at making outer space more accessible, especially to developing countries, is a welcome step.

In this connection, the present paper discusses various aspects of sustainable space, including the possible applicability of the SDGs to outer space. Part one of the paper introduces the concept of sustainable development. It also highlights the global environmental protection regime and its politics. Part two of the paper canvases the role of space (technologies) in achieving the SDGs. Part three of the paper explores the question “whether SDGs include space in them or not." If not, how can the idea of “sustainable space” be achieved? There, the authors explain the need for sustainable space and the discussion happening around it. In Part 4, the authors conclude by arguing for an evolving regime for sustainable space and resisting committing the same mistake that we did to the earth environment.