Transcript Coordination of United Nations Activities

Bringing the Benefits of Space to Humankind
Through Cooperation or Competition?
Mazlan Othman
Deputy Director-General,
United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), and
Director, Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA)
Space and the United Nations System
8 June 2010
United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
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Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
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1961: Establishment of two Subcommittees
– Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC)
– Legal Subcommittee (LSC)
Membership to date: 74 member States and 29 organizations with permanent
observer status
Reports to the Fourth Committee of the General Assembly
Adopts an annual resolution on “International cooperation in the peaceful uses
of outer space”
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Space and Diplomacy
SPACE AGENDA TODAY
 GREENING SPACE:
Mitigating Space Debris
►Space debris includes defunct satellites, discardSpace and Diplomacy
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sections of rockets and parts of satellites that have exploded.
Most numerous of all are tiny particles such as paint chips
and liquid droplets.
►In 2007, COPUOS achieved a major result by adopting its own Space Debris
Mitigation Guidelines. There is general agreement among States that the
implementation of these voluntary guidelines for the mitigation of space debris
at the national level would increase mutual understanding on acceptable
activities in space, thus enhancing stability in space and decreasing the
likelihood of friction and conflict.
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SPACE AGENDA TODAY
 THREATS FROM ASTEROIDS:
Near-Earth Objects
►Near-Earth objects (NEOs) are asteroids,
comets and large meteoroids whose orbit
intersects the Earth’s orbit and may therefore
pose a danger of collision.
► NEOs with a diameter of over 1 km hit
the Earth a few times in a million years.
►COPUOS works on establishing international
procedures and decision-making mechanisms for
dealing with a potential NEO threat.
► In 2013, the Working Group on NEOs finalized
recommendations for an international
response to a NEO threat.
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SPACE AGENDA TODAY
Long-term sustainability of outer space activities:
 Space applications such as earth observation,
communications, navigation, timing and positioning
provide strong support for the implementation of the
actions called for in the United Nations development
agenda.
 Space environment where satellites operate
must be protected.
Expert Working Group:
- Sustainable Space Utilization supporting Sustainable
Development on Earth
- Space Debris, Space Operations and Tools
- Space Weather
- Regulatory Regimes and Guidance for Actors In the Space Arena
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SPACE AND LAW
One of the biggest achievements of COPUOS was the development of
five UN Treaties and five sets of Principles on Outer Space
► Outer Space Treaty, 1967 (101 States parties / 26 additional
signatures)
► Rescue Agreement, 1968 (91/24)
► Liability Convention, 1972 (88/24)
► Registration Convention, 1975 (55/4)
► Moon Agreement, 1979 (13/4)
► Declaration of Legal Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration
and Uses of Outer Space (1963)
► Principles Governing the Use by States of Artificial Earth Satellites for International
Direct Television Broadcasting (1982)
► Principles Relating to Remote Sensing of the Earth from Outer Space (1986)
► Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space (1992)
► Declaration on International Cooperation in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space
for the Benefit and in the Interests of All States, Taking into Particular Account
the Needs of Developing Countries (1996)
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Office for Outer Space Affairs
United Nations Office at Vienna, Austria
www.unoosa.org
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Vision
Bringing the benefits of space to humankind
Mission Statement
The core business of the Office is to promote international cooperation
in the use of outer space to achieve development goals
for the benefit of humankind
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UNOOSA Operational priorities
A. SPACE AND DIPLOMACY: Strengthening the intergovernmental process
B. SPACE AND LAW: Discharging the responsibilities of the Secretary-General
under the treaties
C. SPACE AND DEVELOPMENT:
Securing global public goods:
- Global platform for space-based information for disaster management
and emergency response
- Global navigation satellite systems
Support to regional mechanisms
Capacity-building in utilizing space-based solutions in developing countries
developing countries
E. DELIVERING AS ONE: Enhancing cooperation and coordination within the UN
system
F. CELEBRATING SPACE: Increasing public awareness of space
SPACE AND DEVELOPMENT:UN Programme on Space Applications
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Established in 1971 as a result of
recommendations of 1968 UNISPACE
conference
Conducts a series of world-wide activities
– Workshops
– Symposiums
– Training Courses
 Priority Areas
– Basic Space Technology
– Human Space Technology
– Space weather
– Global navigation satellite
systems
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Basic Space Technology Initiative (BSTI)
 Established in 2009 under the mandate of the United Nations Programme
on Space Applications to support capacity building in space technology
development, with a particular focus on small satellites.
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Achievements 2010-2012:
– Series of BSTI Symposiums, Events and Technical Assistance Missions held
in Austria, Kenya, Latvia, Mexico, Singapore, Spain and planned in Japan,
UAE and other locations
– Creation of Education Directory on Opportunities in Space Technology
Education
– Creation of initial version of Small Satellite Handbook
– Establishment of annual Fellowship Programme at PhD Level
– Assistance on legal and regulatory aspects of small satellites
– Initial work on Space Technology Education Curriculum
 Details see BSTI Website:
http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/SAP/bsti/index.html
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Human Space Technology Initiative (HSTI)
- Launched in 2010
Newest initiative under the framework of the United Nations
Programme on Space Applications.
- Objectives:
 Create awareness among Member States on the benefits of human space
technology and its applications;
 Promote international cooperation in human space flight and space
exploration-related activities;
 Support capacity-building in microgravity research and education.
Basic Space Science Initiative (BSSI) /
International Space Weather Initiative (ISWI)
 BSSI is a long-term effort for the development
of astronomy and space science through
international cooperation, particularly in developing
nations.
 Workshops:
– Co-sponsored/co-organized by: ESA, JAXA, NASA.
– Held from 1991 to 2004 (India 1991, Costa Rica and Colombia 1992, Nigeria 1993,
Egypt 1994, Sri Lanka 1995, Germany 1996, Honduras 1997, Jordan 1999, France 2000,
Mauritius 2001, Argentina 2002, and China 2004)
– Addressed the status of astronomy in each region.
ISWI 2012: 16 + 2 Instrument Arrays
International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite
Systems (ICG)
A forum to discuss Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)
to benefit people around the world
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Established in 2005
Membership: Members, Associate Members and Observers
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9 nations & the European Union
15 organizations (UN system entities, IGOs, NGOs)
ICG participation is open to all countries and entities
that are either GNSS providers or users of GNSS services,
and are interested and willing to actively engage in ICG activities
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International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite
Systems (ICG)
ICG WORK PLAN:
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Compatibility and Interoperability
(Led by USA and Russia)
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Enhancement of performance of GNSS services
(Led by India and ESA)
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Information dissemination and capacity building
(Led by UNOOSA)
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Reference Frame, Timing and Applications
(Led by IAG, IGS, FIG)
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DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT:
UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster
Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER)
► UN-SPIDER is UNOOSA programme, established in 2006 by GA
resolution 61/110.
► Ensures that all countries and regional and international organisations
have access to and develop the capacity to use all types of space-based
information to support the full disaster management cycle by:
–being a gateway to space information for disaster management
support;
–serving as a bridge to connect the disaster management and space
communities; and
–being a facilitator of capacity-building and institutional strengthening.
► Knowledge portal: http://www.un-spider.org/
Space matrix: Choose the disaster type and phase in combination with the
appropriate space technology and this Matrix will make it easy for you to find
the proper information!
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UN-AFFILIATED REGIONAL CENTRES FOR SPACE
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
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DELIVERING AS ONE:
Inter-agency Meeting on Outer Space Activities
“THE WORLD IS CHANGING; THE CHALLENGES TO HUMANITY BECOME MORE AND
MORE PRESSING; AND THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM IS CONSTANTLY MAKING
CONCERTED EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO THESE CHANGES AND CHALLENGES”.
Mazlan Othman, Director of UNOOSA at the
30th Inter-Agency Meeting, Geneva, 2012
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The central coordination mechanism in the United Nations system for
United Nations organizations to cooperate and create synergy in space-related
programmes, avoid duplication in these programmes and foster new interagency initiatives.
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UNOOSA serves as the Secretariat and coordinator of the Inter-Agency
Meeting and has been organizing its annual meetings since 1975
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At least 25 United Nations entities routinely use space applications tools
(DPKO, ECA, ESCAP, FAO, IMO, ICAO, ISDR, ITU, OCHA, UNEP, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNITAR, WMO, WHO, UNHCR, and others).
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A wide-range of topics include: education and training in space-related areas;
space technology for disaster management; space for sustainable
development; climate change, food security.
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THANK YOU!
Office for Outer Space Affairs
United Nations Office at Vienna
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +43-1-26060-4950
Fax: +43-1-26060-5830
Website: www.unoosa.org
"Bringing the benefits of space to humankind"
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