S/2024/302 SC

The Security Council, Emphasizing the common interest of all humankind in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes as a means of furthering the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and the indispensable role of the relevant entities of the United Nations in these efforts, Convinced that space science and technology and their applications, including satellite communications, Earth observation systems and satellite navigation technologies, provide indispensable tools for viable long-term solutions for sustainable development and can contribute effectively to efforts to promote the development of all countries and regions of the world, and in this regard recalling General Assembly resolution A/76/3, entitled “The Space 2030 Agenda: space as a driver of sustainable development”, Recognizing that the prevention of an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, Reaffirming the applicability of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, to outer space activities, Emphasizing the paramount importance of strict compliance with existing arms limitation and disarmament agreements relevant to outer space, including bilateral agreements, and with the existing legal regime concerning the use of outer space, Reaffirming the need for all States Parties to fully comply with their obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Underscoring the importance of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies (“the Outer Space Treaty”) as the cornerstone of the international legal regime governing outer space activities, containing the fundamental principles of international space law and providing an indispensable framework for the conduct of outer space activities and in preserving a peaceful, secure, safe, stable and sustainable outer space environment, Recalling that Article IV of the Outer Space Treaty obligates States Parties not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner, Recalling also that Article IX of the Outer Space Treaty provides that States Parties shall be guided by the principle of cooperation and mutual assistance and shall conduct all their activities in outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, with due regard to the corresponding interests of all other States Parties, Reaffirming paragraph 80 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly, in which it is stated that, in order to prevent an arms race in outer space, further measures should be taken and appropriate international negotiations held in accordance with the spirit of the Outer Space Treaty, Recognizing that negotiations for the conclusion of an international agreement or agreements to prevent an arms race in outer space remain a priority task of the Conference on Disarmament, Recalling the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States issued on January 3, 2022, on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, and affirming that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, 1. Urges that all Member States carrying out activities in the exploration and use of outer space do so in full compliance with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and fostering international cooperation, collaboration and understanding; 2. Calls upon all States, in particular those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space and of the prevention of an arms race in outer space and to refrain from actions contrary to that objective and to the relevant existing treaties in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation; 3. Emphasizes the necessity of further measures, including political commitments and legally binding instruments, with appropriate and effective provisions for verification, to prevent an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, and in this regard, reiterates that the Conference on Disarmament, as the sole multilateral disarmament negotiating forum, has the primary role in the negotiation of multilateral agreement or agreements, as appropriate, on the prevention of an arms race in outer space in all its aspects, and urges the Conference on Disarmament to adopt and implement a balanced and comprehensive programme of work; 4. Affirms the obligation of all States Parties to fully comply with the Outer Space Treaty, including not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner; 5. Emphasizes with concern the grave consequences for the interests of all Member States, including but not limited to the negative repercussions for the long-term sustainability of outer space activities and, in turn, on sustainable development. on Earth, which could result from the detonation of a nuclear weapon or the use of any other kind of weapon of mass destruction in outer space; 6. Recalls the obligations of States Parties under multilateral treaties related to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and further calls on Member States not to develop nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction specifically designed to be placed in orbit around the Earth, or to be installed on celestial bodies, or to be stationed in outer space in any other manner; 7. Urges the promotion of the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes and for the benefit of all peoples, including through renewed efforts to uphold and promote universal accession to, and compliance with, the Outer Space Treaty, and appeals to all Member States which have not yet done so to become parties to the Outer Space Treaty without delay and without conditions; 8. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

UN Project. “S/2024/302.” UN Project, https://un-project.org/votes/resolution/S-2024-302/. Accessed .

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