UN 
United Nations (UN) Director for Outer Space Affairs Aarti Holla Maini said that space activities must be sustainable.
Maini was speaking at the opening of the European Space Forum in Brussels, which assessed the challenges and opportunities facing the space sector.
Recalling that the United Nations is known for its role in promoting peace and security and for its Sustainable Development Goals, Maini noted that at its core is the improvement of life on the planet and of the planet itself.
Maini emphasized the importance of sustainability in space activities, noting that sustainability is central to the space industry.
Aarti Holla Maini said, “As the world’s population grows, sustainability is indeed the challenge of our time. Space is no exception”.
Maini explained that overpopulation in space has various negative consequences, such as collision risk, radio frequency and optical interference, and said that these areas require attention and should be addressed in the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
“Ensuring the sustainability of space is a matter of both technology and governance,” Maini said.
Even the biggest technological breakthroughs can succeed with a coherent framework that provides a system of checks and balances, Maini said, adding that the current geopolitical environment makes it unlikely that consensus will be reached on a new set of binding rules. (AA)
