A/73/PV.26 General Assembly

I now give the floor to the representative of Mexico to introduce draft resolution A/73/L.6.

It is an honour for me to address the General Assembly on behalf of my country, Mexico, which this year has the honour of chairing the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). This year, as part of the Committee’s sixty-first session, we celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, known as UNISPACE+50. Its high-level segment, open to all Member States, was attended by 93 States, a number of United Nations entities and specialized agencies and a wide range of international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations in the space field. As evidenced by its successful anniversary in June, UNISPACE+50 promoted discussions on developing new directions for the global governance of outer-space activities and strengthening the capacities of all States, the Committee itself and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs to respond to new realities, challenges and opportunities in the area of space. Space-based tools are fundamental to meeting the targets and indicators of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The space community must work collectively towards them for the benefit of all, particularly developing countries. I should not fail to mention that in addition to those Goals, we also have before us the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, to mention various landmarks related to space activities and their impact on all of us who inhabit the Earth and the solar system. The States that took part in the high-level segment adopted the draft resolution, entitled “Fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: space as a driver of sustainable development” (A/73/L.6), and recommended it for consideration by the Assembly, under item 30 of its agenda. The work ahead is to establish a Space2030 agenda, which will be crucial to the achievement of the goals outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Through the pillars of space economics, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy, we embark today on a COPUOS process as a single platform to discuss issues related to all space activities and to integrate a global agenda for greater space awareness with a view to meeting the challenges facing humankind and society’s growth. I thank those countries that have joined in sponsoring the draft resolution, and the General Assembly for its support.

I have the great honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of Paraguay, which welcomes the progress made in presenting a comprehensive, inclusive and strategically oriented vision on strengthening international cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, as well as Mexico’s initiative in submitting draft resolution A/73/L.6, on which we will vote today. Paraguay subscribes to the principle of exploring and using outer space for peaceful purposes for the benefit of all humankind, especially for attaining sustainable development, while leaving no one behind, and so as to achieve disaster risk reduction and address the consequences of climate change. We refrain from the use or threat of use of force in our international relations, strive to prevent an arms race in outer space and stress the need to ensure international liability for damage caused by space activities and to continue working on the design of an appropriate legal regime in that regard. In that belief, Paraguay has applied for membership in the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS). For space to be a driver and a decisive element in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as discussed at the 2018 session of COPUOS and in its Scientific and Technical and Legal Subcommittees, it is essential to strengthen coordination and support at all international levels, including through improved access to space data, applications and infrastructure. We urge all Member State delegations to work together to seize and strengthen the opportunities of international cooperation offered by the exploration of outer space, as well as the development and application of space science and technology. All countries, regardless of their level of economic or scientific development, should participate in, contribute to and benefit from the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes. In this regard, we stress the importance of taking special account of the needs of developing countries, particularly in building their capabilities to explore and use outer space for peaceful purposes without discrimination, on an equal footing and in accordance with international law. We emphasize the importance of fostering international cooperation to that end. In that spirit, the Government of Paraguay, which recently ratified the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, thereby contributing to its universalization, has also created a space agency, made up of public and private institutions, with the objective of promoting and implementing policies for developing national space activities and taking advantage of outer space through its peaceful use. The space agency, which has been operating since 2017, is currently developing its space policy and national space-activities programme and has promoted initiatives to cooperate with similar institutions in other States, most recently Mexico and Argentina. Finally, in our firm belief in the importance of the work of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in the creation of national capacities and its relevance as a platform for cooperation among States, the delegation of Paraguay supports providing it with appropriate and sufficient resources for assisting States with capacity-building activities in space science and technology and their applications and in the development of space legislation and policy.

At the outset, I want to welcome the Assembly’s adoption today of draft resolution A/73/L.6, entitled “Fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: Space as a driver of sustainable development”. I would also like to express our appreciation for the organization of the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE+50), which was an important opportunity to review more than 50 years of exploring and using outer space, in addition to defining the future role of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in terms of the global governance of outer space. The United Arab Emirates played an active role in making the UNISPACE+50 Conference successful, based on our belief in the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. We recognize that outer space has an important role to play. That is why in 2016 and 2017 we hosted two of the three preparatory forums for UNISPACE+50, held under the topic “Outer space as a driver for economic and social sustainable development”. That led to the adoption of the Dubai Declaration, which includes many important recommendations to be adopted within the United Nations Space2030 agenda. In addition to participating in the discussion sessions of the Conference, the United Arab Emirates helped to organize the UNISPACE+50 exhibition, as well as an event on the United Arab Emirates and UNISPACE+50. The United Arab Emirates is working to establish a robust and sustainable outer-space sector that can contribute to regional and international efforts promoting space exploration. That will help develop advanced technologies that could have a positive impact on people’s lives and contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Outer space is a major area of investment for our State with a view to achieving a promising future for generations to come. We have developed plans and policies for outer space that extend as far as 100 years from now. The most prominent of them is our 2117 Mars programme, which includes building the first human city on Mars by 2117. Given the important role that young people play in shaping and preparing for the future, with its opportunities and challenges in the outer-space sector, the United Arab Emirates has developed a strategy training young nationals in this area with a view to becoming active and essential partners in leading efforts at the local, regional and international levels to explore space and use it in peaceful ways. In that context, my country has created a council for an outer-space agency for young people of the United Arab Emirates that aims to encourage the efforts of distinguished young people from the agency and provides them with a platform where they can exchange ideas and aspirations on outer space, enabling them to come up with innovative concepts and get help in implementing them. As part of our astronaut programme, two young Emiratis were recently chosen to be the first Arabs to participate in the activities of the international space station with a view to carrying out space exploration projects. In order to implement our plans for training a new Emirati generation capable of carrying out ambitious space projects over the next decade, a large group of elite young Emirati engineers, both men and women, have designed and executed the KhalifaSat project, the first satellite made in the United Arab Emirates for monitoring purposes. Alia Al-Mansouri, a female Emirati student, conducted a scientific space experiment that won first place in a contest in Abu Dhabi on the theme “Genes in space”, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will be launching a Falcon 9 rocket carrying Al-Mansouri’s experiment, which will undoubtedly motivate her fellow students to develop more such experiments. The year 2020 will be a unique one for young Emiratis engaged in the space sector, as my country will be hosting the International Conference on Space Navigation in Dubai. We will be the first Islamic-Arab State to host that conference, which was first held in 1950. That year we will also launch the first Islamic-Arab probe to Mars, making us one of nine States seeking to explore that planet. The Hope probe will help to acquire scientific knowledge, create space applications and find highly competent human resources in the Emirates. By 2020, more than 150 Emirati engineers, men and women, will be contributing to the project. In conclusion, as a representative of the young people of the United Arab Emirates, I want to assure the Assembly that we will continue to work diligently to create a better and more promising future for succeeding generations, and in every sector, not just outer space. In that regard, we call on the international community to step up its efforts to empower and invest in young people. Young people have great potential and unlimited capabilities that can build prosperous, stable societies if used constructively.

The Russian Federation supports the Assembly’s adoption today of draft resolution A/73/L.6, entitled “Fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: space as a driver of sustainable development”. The preparatory process for the conference celebrating 50 years since the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE+50) was enriching and important both for understanding the areas of activity of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space on which States have achieved a mutual understanding and those on which there are differences of position. In particular, some States opposed strengthening the draft resolution’s provisions on developing international regulations for outer-space activities based on their belief in the importance of developing exclusively national regulatory systems. While we believe that national regulation should certainly be developed, it must be done so that it does not conflict with international norms and rules. Besides that, significant differences of opinion were expressed about the introduction into the political lexicon a few years ago of the term “global governance of outer- space activities”. We think it would be a good idea for the term to be clarified within the framework of the Committee. We hope that States’ efforts to implement the draft resolution will contribute to the development of international cooperation on the exploration of outer space and ultimately to the achievement of the sustainable development agenda. However, it is important to strive to consistently address the issue of the safety of outer-space activities and security in space in general. Among other things, working to achieve the goals set by UNISPACE+50 means convening a large number of so-called high-level forums organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs in cooperation with host countries. We can only welcome the development of that type of dialogue. Together with the United Nations, in Moscow in September we ourselves successfully held the first United Nations Conference on Space Law and Space Policy, in which more than 200 representatives of various countries, academia and businesses took part. In general, my country attaches great importance to issues related to promoting the implementation of the sustainable development agenda through outer-space activities. Our Government policy stipulates that the results of outer-space activities must be used for the socioeconomic development of the Russian Federation and its regions both for the period between now and 2030 and beyond. This year Russian spaceports launched 10 rockets putting 22 spacecraft into orbit, 10 of them foreign. As part of its basic space research, the Russian Federation is conducting ExoMars, an international Mars exploration project, as well as moon exploration projects with automated spacecraft. We are continuing our activities in the area of manned space flight, in which we are a world leader. Work is currently under way on a new generation of Federatsia manned transport spaceships designed to send people and goods to stations orbiting Earth and to the moon. We are focusing seriously on issues related to the normative and legal regulation of outer-space activities, and in particular we are working on improving the system of registering objects launched into outer space, as well as studying possible options for implementing long-term guidelines for the sustainability of space activities based on our experience. Like other participants in outer-space activities, Russia greatly values the development of international cooperation, including in areas such as scientific and technical cooperation, the training of personnel and cosmonauts, joint development of space technology and its components and carrying out collaborative work in space. That also includes the monitoring of objects and events in near-Earth space, as well as the general state of the near-Earth space environment. We believe, indeed we are certain, that the Committee can become a platform for sharing experiences on a broad range of outer-space activities in the interests of sustainable development.

In 1958, soon after the launching of Earth-orbiting satellites had imparted new intensity to the cold war, the United Nations created the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) in the hope that the use of outer space would avoid extensions of national rivalries and instead be harnessed for the benefit of humankind. Recognizing space as a new frontier of human endeavour that held both promise and danger in equal measure, nations aimed to erect a structure within the framework of the United Nations that would foster cooperation and shared benefits. Over the past six decades, the Committee has followed these principles in developing and supporting the four core outer-space treaties and in promulgating new legally binding consensus principles and guidelines for activities in outer space, which by the end of this meeting will include a set of voluntary guidelines for the long-term sustainability of outer-space activities. In doing so, the Committee continues to make important contributions to the global governance framework for outer space. COPUOS has also acted as a catalyst, promoting international cooperation in space activities and fostering information exchanges among developed and developing countries on the latest advances in space exploration and applications. The American space programme was born at the height of the Cold War, when fears of a super-Power space race over time reached their zenith. Fortunately, these fears abated in no small part because of information collected and conveyed by satellites. Today we are now able to see our space activities primarily as an instrument of human advancement. Over the past six decades the Committee’s growing roster of members has continued to serve as the United Nations leading forum for advancing the peaceful exploration and uses of outer space. The most recent way station in our shared voyage is the 2018 session of COPUOS and its Scientific and Technical and Legal Subcommittees (UNISPACE+50), which celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, held in 1968. UNISPACE I, which was held just 11 months before the first humans landed on the moon, raised awareness of the vast potential for space benefits for all humankind. UNISPACE II, in 1982, continued those efforts particularly in promoting space-technology applications for developing countries. UNISPACE III, in 1999, took into account the growing number of developing countries involved in space activities. Building on its success, UNISPACE+50 recognized the growing importance of private-sector involvement in space exploration and applications. We were pleased with the breadth and the scope of the topics considered, as well as the presentations by leading scientists, Government officials and private-sector representatives. UNISPACE+50 has continued this impressive legacy of the ways that Governments, the United Nations and civil society can partner to advance innovative space applications for the benefit of everyone. To that end, the United States was pleased with the success of the UNISPACE+50 commemoration that took place in conjunction with the sixty-first session of COPUOS in June. We were particularly pleased that UNISPACE+50 initiated a process for the Committee to develop a Space2030 agenda over the next two years, setting the course for the Committee’s work through 2030. My delegation would like to take note of the progress made during the first meeting of the Working Group on the Space2030 Agenda, held in Vienna from 1 to 5 October. In this regard, the United States would like to thank Ambassadors Maria Sabbatini of Italy and Dumitru-Dorin Prunariu of Romania for their outstanding leadership during the first meeting, which resulted in the development of a work plan and methods of work setting the Working Group on a path for success moving into next year. The United States looks forward to continuing its participation in these efforts to develop a visionary document that lays the foundation for the future work of the Committee and its Subcommittees, taking into account new directions that Member States are taking to move beyond low-Earth orbits to go to the moon, Mars and other celestial bodies, as well as incorporating new and innovative commercial ventures.

Today space science and technology are an indispensable part of our daily lives. Our dependence on them could be compared to our dependence on air and the seas and oceans. That is why outer space is considered part of the common heritage and the province of all humankind. It must be explored and used for the benefit of the present and future generations of all peoples, and it must be free for equitable exploration, use and access by all countries. That is the inalienable right of any State, regardless of its level of economic or scientific development. Accordingly, as a founding member of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), Iran underlines the importance of ensuring the full application of universally agreed principles on outer space. This is the only approach whereby we can ensure the sustainable and equitable use of outer space by all States. In this context, we underline the importance of such principles as equality, the non-appropriation of outer space by claims of sovereignty, use, appropriation or other means, non-discriminatory cooperation in outer-space activities and non-intervention and non-interference in the activities of States in exploring and using outer space for peaceful purposes. Those principles must be fully respected by all. Accordingly, access to outer space through space science, technologies and their applications should be available to all States without discrimination of any kind. They are indispensable tools for sustainable development. To that end, and taking into account the urgency of developing countries’ need to be able to use space science and technologies in their socioeconomic development, cooperation with developing countries in outer-space activities should be promoted. Similarly, the non-discriminatory transfer of related science, know- how and technology must be promoted and ensured. Iran also attaches great importance to the long-term sustainability of outer-space activities, which should be an integral part of such activities and respected by all. However, long-term sustainability should not be used as a pretext for imposing limitations on the space activities of developing countries. Equality is one of the most important principles of international space law and must be strictly applied. For instance, the exploitation of the geostationary orbit should be rationalized and made available to all States on an equal basis and without discrimination. Unfortunately, the existing regulations for allocating slots on this orbit, which basically set forth a first-come, first-served regime, have limited many countries’ capacity to gain access to it. Indeed, many orbital slots are occupied only by the most developed countries. At the present time, therefore, there is little chance for developing countries to enter outer space and place their own geosatellites in appropriate orbital slots, which means they are deprived of more useful satellite services and excluded from enjoying the benefits of geostationary orbits. That is an inequality that must end. One of the cardinal principles of international space law is that outer space may be explored and utilized exclusively for peaceful purposes. Any attempt to militarize or weaponize outer space would seriously challenge that principle. The announcement by the United States that it will create a new military force for outer space is an alarming development. As United States officials have stated, they seek dominance in space, view space as a war-fighting domain, and plan to work on the development of a space-based weapon system. Such policies and measures increase the possibility of an arms race or even actual conflict in outer space. We should make every effort to ensure that outer space will be explored and used exclusively for peaceful purposes. In this context, Iran fully supports the negotiation of a legally binding instrument on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. I would like to conclude by stressing that promoting the greatest possible use of space science and technology, ensuring the sustainability of outer- space activities and ascertaining that space will remain a zone of peace are common responsibilities. We should fulfil them responsibly.

Space brings an abundance and diversity of unique and fundamental benefits to Earth. As the space community moves forward with its exploration endeavours, space will continue to inspire, innovate and provide real-world applications for the benefit of humankind. (spoke in French) Canada, through its national space programme, is fully committed and actively working to ensure that space science and technology provide fundamental social and economic benefits to all Canadians and to the global community. (spoke in English) In the past three years, through the preparatory process for the United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space+50 (UNISPACE+50), the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) have successfully promoted the use of space as a driver for sustainable development and increased the recognition of its unparalleled contribution to and indispensability in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The high-level UNISPACE+50 segment, which took place in Vienna in June, was an excellent opportunity for the international space community to showcase and promulgate the socioeconomic benefits of space. From environmental monitoring to disaster management, agriculture, rural connectivity and job creation, space tremendously benefits people and the planet and is a dynamic driver for sustainable development. (spoke in French) Canada is honoured to have played a leading role throughout the preparatory process for UNISPACE+50. As the Chair of COPUOS for the 2016-2017 biennium and leader of thematic priorities 4 and 5, on outer-space weather and space and global health, respectively, Canada has sought to make a significant contribution to UNISPACE+50 and to the development of the Space2030 agenda for the Committee, its subcommittees and UNOOSA. Over the past three years, we have worked closely with colleagues from COPUOS and UNOOSA to achieve significant results. In addition to highlighting the many benefits of space, Canada considers UNISPACE+50 an excellent opportunity for addressing the rapid evolution of the space agenda and the unique role played by the Committee and UNOOSA in international space cooperation and the global governance of space activities. We fully support the adoption of draft resolution A/73/L.6. (spoke in English) The UNISPACE+50 process is not yet over, and through its follow-on working group to develop a Space2030 agenda, Canada will continue to deliver on promoting the peaceful use and development of space, advancing knowledge of space through science and ensuring that space science and technology provide social and economic benefits to all, with a focus on promoting diversity and women in space. Canada is committed to making concrete and measurable progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. In many instances, reporting on such progress will require data and information derived from space assets. With the second largest landmass in the world, Canada relies heavily on Earth observation as an essential and sometimes its only source of information. Canada’s long-standing expertise and advanced achievement in space-based Earth observation is a key asset supporting decision-making in sustainable development. For example, space-based Earth observation data has proved instrumental in providing reliable information on conditions in the Arctic. For northern communities, the ability to travel safely over coastal sea ice is an essential part of their basic routine, which is becoming increasingly dangerous because of climate change. Given the extent, remoteness, and isolation of these regions, Earth observation is often the only cost- effective and technically feasible means of obtaining reliable information on ice conditions. In addition, over the next few months, we will launch the third generation of Canada’s Synthetic Aperture Radar Satellite (RADARSAT) programme, the RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM). RCM will have a significant role to play in supporting and tracking progress of the Sustainable Development Goals. It will revisit Canada’s vast territory and maritime approaches on a daily basis and provide daily access to 90 per cent of the world’s surface. It will help lead our efforts to monitor our changing northern lands and coastal waterways, providing valuable information on how these remote regions are responding to both climate change and increasing resource development. Although national commitments and advances are key steps towards progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, it is critical that we continue to share expertise and work together regionally and globally to ensure success. No country can do this alone. The Canadian delegation would like to once again applaud the United Nations for its continued work in challenging all Governments to work in a collaborative manner towards ending poverty, building more prosperous and peaceful societies and protecting our planet. In conclusion, Canada is proud to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the work of COPUOS and the Office for Outer Space Affairs on the Space2030 Agenda. We will continue to leverage space and its assets in support of the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby increasing the socioeconomic benefits to humankind. As an innovative, inspirational tool for peace, diplomacy and collaboration among nations, space is already seen as and will increasingly prove to be a driver for sustainable development.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on this agenda item. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/73/L.6, entitled “Fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space: space as a driver of sustainable development”. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to those delegations listed in document A/73/L.6, the following countries have also become sponsors of the draft resolution: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, France, Greece, Guinea, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malawi, Malaysia, Paraguay, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the United Arab Emirates, Ukraine and Uruguay.

May I take it that the General Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/73/L.6?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption of the resolution, I would like to remind speakers that explanations of position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

My delegation fully supports resolution 73/6, concerning the fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. However, we would like to explain our views on three parts of the resolution, which by no means signifies that we have any objection to it. The United States recognizes the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a global framework for sustainable development that can help countries to work towards global peace and prosperity. We applaud that call for shared responsibility, including national responsibility, within the 2030 Agenda, and emphasize that all countries have a role to play in achieving this vision. The 2030 Agenda recognizes that each country must work to implement the Agenda in accordance with its own national policies and priorities. The United States also underscores that paragraph 18 of the 2030 Agenda calls for countries to implement the Agenda in a manner than is consistent with the rights and obligations of States under international law. We also highlight our mutual recognition in paragraph 58 that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda must respect and be without prejudice to the independent mandates of other processes and institutions, including negotiations, and that it does not prejudice or serve as a precedent for decisions and actions that are under way in other forums. In terms of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, which is also mentioned in resolution 73/6, the United States reiterates its view on the Framework, which was set out in its explanation of position delivered in Sendai in March 2015. We have been a strong supporter of disaster-risk-reduction initiatives that are designed to reduce the loss of life and the social and economic impact of disasters. This assistance helps the recipients to build a culture of preparedness, promote greater resilience and achieve self-reliance. Finally, with respect to the specific reference to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in resolution 73/6, we want to note that the United States announced that it intends to withdraw from the Agreement as soon as it is eligible to do so, consistent with the terms of the Agreement, unless suitable terms for re-engagement are identified. The language on the Paris Agreement in the resolution is therefore without prejudice to United States positions. We recognize that climate change is a complex global challenge and affirm our support for promoting economic growth and improving energy security while protecting the environment.

We have heard the only speaker in explanation of position. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 30?