Space is our Environment, too
Megaconstellations in the night sky, junk in Earth’s orbit, the race to the moon and its resources: planetary sustainability comprising Earth and its space environment is ever more important.
Our Vision
Humans are setting out for the stars. Our space environment is being used more and more intensively, mega constellations are beginning to light up the night sky and disrupt science. Junk is accumulating in the more heavily used Earth orbits. It’s not just the U.S. that wants to go back to the Moon, and this time plans to use its resources.
As time on Earth is limited, we need to move. But we need ethical guidelines in the area of outer space, which is an international domain, especially because the law remains open to interpretation.
Moreover, we need to link the issues of sustainable space use with the environmental debate here on Earth: we should discuss an 18th Sustainable Development Goal for our space environment. #SDG18
About Us
This is a non-profit initiative aiming to foster the discussion by organizing an international workshop on topic.(#PLASUS21)
To make this happen, we want to establish a short-term research position at the University of Bern for Dr. Andreas Losch, MBA, who initiated this research in previous years.
What people say about planetary sustainability
People need natural resources to make a living and in the long run this will include natural resources from outer space.
COSPAR Assembly 2018 Member
We (as space researchers) need guidelines to decide how to conduct research benefiting sustainable development.
COSPAR Assembly 2018 Member
History & More Information
- First workshop sponsorWe found the first workshop sponsor: the UZH Innovation Hub is a platform for innovation and entrepreneurship at the University of Zurich. It acts as a catalyst to accelerate the development of new inventions and ideas and strengthens the transfer ofContinue reading “First workshop sponsor”
- Media Partner: spacewatch.globalWe are very happy to announce the media partner for our #PLASUS21 workshop: spacewatch.global! Best known by its global series of Space Cafés and the opinion pieces published on its website, Space Watch Global provides an independent perspective on space. WeContinue reading “Media Partner: spacewatch.global”
- Looking for SponsorsTo fund the #PLASUS21 workshop and 3 months of a 65% position for research, the organization and evaluation of the workshop and the refinement of its results, a crowdfunding campaign on wemakeit.com is running until 2nd March 2021. You or yourContinue reading “Looking for Sponsors”
- Space Café on Religion, Ethics and SpaceYou can now listen to the recording of Moriba Jah’s space café on religion, ethics and space. It will help you understand more deeply why planetary sustainability is important. It was my great pleasure to participate in these bold and visionaryContinue reading “Space Café on Religion, Ethics and Space”
- #PLASUS21 WorkshopPLAnetary SUStainability 21: Challenges, Opportunities and Necessities The workshop will connect space & global sustainability, key space actors and sustainability thinkers and will take place on Thursday 29/4/21 9-17 CET online via Zoom. Tentative Schedule: 09:00-9:05 Opening (TBA) 09:05-9:30 Planetary Sustainability: theContinue reading “#PLASUS21 Workshop”
- CollaborationsThis initiative looks for collaboration opportunities to explore relevant research. Our current scientific research collaborators include: Dr. Xiao-Shan Yap, Guest Assistant Professor, University of Utrecht,Environmental Social Scientist, EAWAG ‘We are now witnessing the dawn of an era in which the sustainabilityContinue reading “Collaborations”
- Additional OutcomeTwo additional articles on planetary sustainability aspects have now been published in the journal HTS – Theological Studies: Andreas Losch, Developing our Planetary Plan with an 18th United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Space Environment, https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/5951 Traugott Jähnichen, The dynamics of economicContinue reading “Additional Outcome”
- Fruits for the FutureNow the most prominent fruits of the planetary sustainability project are all available online, and open access. Read my short introductory editorial to the planetary sustainability collection, just published: https://doi.org/10.1017/sus.2020.7 All of the articles of the collection are provided by leadingContinue reading “Fruits for the Future”
- WSF 2019: Short ReportThe UN and Austria’s WORLD SPACE FORUM, taking place 18-22 November in Vienna, was an extension of the idea of the UN’s High-Level fora as preparatory and follow-up events of the 2018 millenium space conference UNISPACE+50. The invitation-only event brought togetherContinue reading “WSF 2019: Short Report”
