THE NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY ADVANCES A UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL FOR HUMAN SPACE EXPANSION

Off Uncategorized,

Karlton D. Johnson, at left, and Alfred Anzaldua address the 66th COPUOS at the United Nations. Credit: NSS

NSS Makes the Case for Facilitating Sustainability on Earth by Expanding Humanity into Space

The space domain is a different operating environment from Earth’s … we need a goal that will facilitate development of the space domain while garnering returns to address Earth-based challenges.”

— Karlton D. Johnson, Chairman of the NSS Board of Governors

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA, US, September 14, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ — On September 15, 2023, the National Space Society, in partnership with Space Renaissance International, will host a joint session in New York City to advocate for the inclusion of an 18th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) focused on the expansion of humanity into space. The effort, supported by a coalition of 55 space organizations, will be used to shape a value proposition to be presented to United Nations delegates for the inclusion of this Space SDG in the U.N. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

“The Space Domain is clearly a different operating environment from Earth’s,” said Karlton D. Johnson, retired Air Force Colonel, Chairman of the NSS Board of Governors, and Chairman of the NSS International Committee leading the effort. “As such, we need a goal that will facilitate development of the space domain while garnering returns to address Earth-based challenges.”

Dr. Fredrick Jenet, the NSS International Committee Co-Chair, added, “We presented our initial thoughts on an 18th SDG for permanent human expansion into space to the 66th Session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space [COPUOS] last June. Our ideas generated positive and enthusiastic reactions from many attendees … From there, largely because of tireless efforts by SRI CEO Adriano Autino, this movement has gained a huge following of professional organizations interested in seeing UN delegates submit and pass a resolution for an 18th SDG for human expansion into space.”

Enthusiasm for the September 15 joint session in New York City, which will occur during the UN General Assembly Science Summit, has grown rapidly. Organizations such as the Mars Society, Space Development Foundation, Beyond Earth Institute, and many others have lent strong support to the initiative. Alfred Anzaldua, long-time Policy Chair for the NSS and International Committee member said, “It’s remarkable to see the surging support for this new SDG. This 18th SDG will help to focus people inside and outside the UN on the benefits that will accrue for humans everywhere, including on Earth, with the permanent expansion of human communities living and working in space. As a bonus, such an expansion will also help make many of the other 17 SDGs become more quickly sustainable.”

Dale Skran, NSS COO, added, “We’re extremely happy to see the NSS continuing to take a leadership role in shaping the future of key space sector issues internationally. This discussion is what our organization is all about.”

People wishing to watch the sessions will be able to do so via YouTube (https://youtube.com/live/3dyrsT5jtaM) on or after September 15, starting at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SPACE SOCIETY
The National Space Society was founded in 1987 via a merger of the National Space Institute and the L5 Society. The NSS is the preeminent citizen’s voice on space exploration, development, and settlement. To learn more about the NSS and its mission to establish humanity as a spacefaring species, visit us on the web at space.nss.org.

Rod Pyle
National Space Society
+1 626-399-4440
email us here
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube

About The Author

Privacy Policy