The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, aiming to protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all. Now, experts are calling for an 18th SDG to address space debris, a growing problem that threatens the orbit of Earth.
A recent study by an international collaboration of experts highlights the need for a globally accepted agreement to safeguard Earth’s orbit from space junk. The team, led by Dr. Imogen Ellen Napper, argues that the lessons learned from marine debris mitigation can be applied to space, ensuring a sustainable use of Earth’s orbit and preventing the accumulation of space junk.
With over 20,000 satellites in orbit, space debris is becoming an increasingly significant issue. According to the European Space Agency (ESA), there are currently 40,500 space debris objects greater than 10 cm in LEO, and over 100 million smaller debris pieces. This could lead to Kessler Syndrome, where the accumulation of debris increases the likelihood of more collisions, posing a significant hazard to active satellites and operations.
Experts warn that space is a finite resource in dire need of environmental protection, and neglecting it will have devastating consequences. “It’s time to create policies to regulate what we’re putting in space,” said Dr. Thomas Dowling, lecturer in Remote Sensing & Geospatial Science at the University of Auckland.
The study draws inspiration from SDG14: Life Below Water, which emphasizes the importance of conserving and sustainably using marine resources. The authors argue that an additional SDG could be a means to make a global call to action for addressing space debris.
The UN acknowledges that space-based research contributes to economic growth, increased food production, medical advances, and connecting remote communities to services. However, experts emphasize the need for proactive measures and legal frameworks to address issues of global importance before they become unmanageable.
As humanity seeks to achieve “the Great Migration” and become an interplanetary species, it is crucial that we avoid making the same mistakes in space as we have on Earth. The study highlights the interconnected nature of our efforts in space and life on Earth, emphasizing the need for a globally accepted agreement to safeguard our planet’s orbit from space junk.
Source: https://www.universetoday.com/170355/its-time-for-sustainable-development-goal-for-space