Space as a Global Commons – a Presidency seminar
On 15 February, the Swedish Presidency organised the seminar Space as a Global Commons at the Swedish Permanent Representation in Brussels.
The topic fits well into the Presidency theme of a Fair and Sustainable Use of Space, and the logic behind the seminar was to stimulate the discussion on how to ensure a responsible use of space in our times, but also with a view to future generations.
High-profiled experts from France, Czech Republic, Spain, Estonia, Sweden and the European Commission, and an active audience, made sure that different aspects were highlighted and discussed at the seminar. These included concepts such as equitable versus equal access to space, appropriation versus use of resources, and the relation between political and regulatory aspects of human activities in space. The necessity to value space in economic terms was addressed, as well as the need for prompt action to ensure future use of space. There was a consensus about our dependence on space activities for our normal modern life (weather satellites, positioning services, etc.) and the fact that this dependence will only grow in the future. Due to the difficulties to achieve rules on the global level, regional approaches were pointed out as an alternative to alleviate some negative consequences of a continued unbridled exploitation of space.
In an inspirational talk, Associate Professor Gabriella Stenberg Wiesner from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics, shared her passion for space and emphasised that it is not possible to explore something without affecting it, illustrating this by mentioning that the temperature of the moon was changed because a few people had walked on its surface.
The Presidency has tabled a proposal for Council Conclusions touching upon these aspects and the discussions are ongoing in the Council, with the foreseen adoption at the Competitiveness Council in Brussels in May. The outcomes of the seminar will serve as valuable input for the Presidency in the continued work in the Council.