SRI unwaveringly supports the values and member states of UN COPUOS, along with fellow prestigious observer organizations such as the IAF, COSPAR, IAA, ESA, and EU, said Professor Bernard Foing, President of SRI. Our SRI geographically diverse community, with renowned expertise in space techniques and humanities, approved a 5-year action plan in 2021, giving birth to the Space 18th SDG Space4All movement, to serve citizen development on Earth and Beyond.
I personally feel emotionally proud for SRI, as I co-organized the July 1999 Space Generation Congress at UniSpace III in Vienna, which led to SGAC Space Generation Advisory Council to UN, and many great results and follow-up progress. And I participated in multiple events with U.N. since 1995, adds Professor Foing.
This recognition by COPUOS marks a significant step in our mission to promote space development and its benefits for all of humanity, said Adriano V. Autino, CEO and Founder of SRI. We are honored to bring the perspective of space philosophy to this crucial international forum.
Of course, people know the benefits of satellite technologies on Earths surface, such as for example, GPS, climate monitoring, water management, and disaster recovery. What many people do not know, or yet fully comprehend, is the urgency to initiate civilian space development and civilization expansion into outer space, Autino explained. Our mission remains to advocate for this urgent expansionist view within the U.N. and in the broader public. We will continue to promote the global benefits of space.
The 67th COPUOS General Assembly focused heavily on space sustainability and the role of space in achieving sustainable development goals. A key advance was the formation of the Action Team on Lunar Activities Consultation (ATLAC) by the Romanian delegation, with support from South Korea. This signaled growing international interest in collaborative lunar resource exploration and exploitation.
The assembly highlighted the potential of the incoming cislunar economy as a constructive and collaborative alternative to current geopolitical challenges. Discussions addressed major space initiatives like the Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), indicating them as possible best practices.
SRIs observer status at COPUOS will allow the organization and the Space 18th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Coalition members to contribute to critical space-related issues. This includes SRIs significant progress in the ratification of an 18th SDG focused on space sustainability and the power of space to accelerate and ensure the success of all the other 17 SDGs. This initiative has garnered significant support from several delegates, in informal talks.
Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, Director General of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), expressed her appreciation for SRIs commitment to bringing space philosophy into COPUOS discussions.
SRI extends its gratitude to its delegation at the 67th COPUOS General Assembly: Werner Grandl, Marie-Luise Heuser, Bernard Foing, and Adriano Autino.
Special gratitude goes to Robert Katz, Mikhail Baskov, Frank White, Gary Bernard, Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom, and the entire Space 18th SDG Coalition for their invaluable previous and continued support. Most notably, they recently convened a well-received Pre-COPUOS Summit to assemble, assess, and aggregate recommendations for COPUOS General Assembly topics from the Coalitions 82 international member organizations. An analogous follow-on Pre-General Assembly Summit will be held in person at U.N. Plaza in New York City, and virtually, on September 13, 2024, to coincide with and support the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79).
This achievement is a testament to the collective effort of our global community, Autino added. We look forward to collaborating with UN COPUOS member states, space agencies, and other observer NGOs like the National Space Society, IAF, COSPAR, Moon Village Association, and Secure World Foundation in advancing space activities for the benefit of all humanity, including future space-based communities.
Looking ahead, SRI plans to identify countries supportive of the Space 18th SDG proposal, continue to support COPUOS and its vital mission and increase public awareness of UNOOSA and COPUOS activities.
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