Promoting Sustainability Value in Earth's Orbit

Elena Cirkovic*, Minoo Rathnasabapathy, Danielle Wood

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal/Conference contribution in journal/Contribution to newspaperConference articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

This paper aims to implement an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability and protection of the orbital environment in relation to the current commercial activities. It argues that orbital and planetary sustainability, and the corresponding evolution of domestic, international, and regional regulatory instruments, need to take place in conjunction with sustainability of the Earth System, where the term “Earth system" refers to Earth's interacting physical, chemical, and biological processes. The paper focuses on interaction of complex systems to engage with important challenges that lie at the intersection of these domains. The starting point is the international outer space law, as an adaptive anthropogenic system, and its broader contextualisation in relation to Earth System and non-anthropogenic agencies. The paper then situates the role of private corporations and argues for the promotion of Sustainability Values and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in outer space and the Earth System. An example of such an initiative, the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR), proposed by an interdisciplinary seeks to foster voluntary action by satellite operators to reduce the risk of space debris, on-orbit collisions, and unsustainable space operations. The paper argues for a transdisciplinary, plural, and coordinated approaches to address the environmental impact of anthropogenic activities in the outer space-Earth System interactions.

Original languageEnglish
Article number190266
JournalProceedings of the International Astronautical Congress, IAC
Volume2022-September
ISSN0074-1795
Publication statusPublished - 2022
Event73rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2022 - Paris, France
Duration: 18 Sept 202222 Sept 2022

Conference

Conference73rd International Astronautical Congress, IAC 2022
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityParis
Period18/09/202222/09/2022

Keywords

  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Earth System
  • International Outer Space Law
  • Sustainability Value

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