SWF Statement – UN COPUOS, Exchange of Views: UNISPACE+50, Space Sustainability, and Global Policy (June 2016)

This statement by Secure World Foundation outlines its recent and upcoming contributions in support of COPUOS and the broader UN space governance framework. It highlights SWF’s collaborations with UNOOSA, UNIDIR, and other civil society organizations to advance peaceful uses of outer space and promote space sustainability. Key anticipated engagements included participation in:

• The 10th UN Conference on Space Law and Policy,
• The UN/IAF Workshop in Mexico,
• The Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, and
• The High-Level Forum on UNISPACE+50 in Dubai.

The statement reflects on the alignment between SWF’s mission and the goals of COPUOS, emphasizing shared foundations in documents like the Vienna Declaration, the Sendai Framework, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement (COP21). These frameworks underscore the unique role of space technologies in meeting global challenges.

SWF also presented its recently published book, Space in the 21st Century: Discovery, Innovation, Sustainability, developed in partnership with the Aerospace Technology Working Group and others. The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to multi-year support for UNISPACE+50, and previewed the forthcoming Handbook for New Actors in Space, intended to guide responsible and sustainable participation in space activities.

The statement concludes with a tribute to the late Patti Grace Smith, a key advisor and pioneer in commercial space regulation .