SGAC Involvement with the United Nations

 

Our work with the United Nations

 

In 1999, at UNISPACE III, the Space Generation Advisory Council in support of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications was created following the outcomes of the first Space Generation Forum. It was recommended “to create, within the framework of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, a consultative mechanism to facilitate the continued participation of young people from all over the world, especially young people from developing countries and young women, in cooperative space-related activities”. Since then, SGAC works diligently to raise awareness among the next generation of space professionals on a global scale working together with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UN OOSA), the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UN COPUOS) and its subcommittees: the Legal Subcommittee (LSC) and the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (STSC). SGAC has been a Permanent Observer of COPUOS, LSC and STSC since 2001 and has been a member of the United Nations Economic and Social Committee(ECOSOC) since 2003. 

Additionally, SGAC regularly engages with the UN at UN fora, symposia and other events such as UNISPACE+50 in 2018 and is now working with the UN toward the Space 2030 agenda and the Youth 2030 agenda. To learn more about what the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs offers students check out the UNOOSA website on Information for Students. SGAC works on many UN related topics and international space topics with SGAC Events and SGAC Project Groups, however overall SGAC works on topics such as Capacity Building, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Space for Women, the Space 2030 agenda and the Youth 2030 agenda.

Our Impact

The SGAC impact reaches as far as our member base and as broad as our involvement in the space sector. The products of SGAC events and project groups shape space policy at every level and has been referenced by other delegations at UN COPUOS. The objective is to articulate and frame a new long-term vision for space that aligns with – to the greatest extent practicable and in a manner consistent with the United Nations Space Agenda – the views of the future generation of space leaders.

 

United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS)

SGAC regularly presents its reports at the UN SGAC has a Permanent Observer status at UN COPUOS since and participate as such in its General Assembly meeting (every year in June) and at its two subcommittees’ meetings: the Legal Subcommittee (every year in March) and the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee (every year in February). As one of 84 Permanent Observers in COPUOS, SGAC contributes to the activities and action teams of COPUOS. SGAC at each meeting contributes to the discussion by making a General Statement (see below) and a Technical Presentation on the various activities that SGAC’s network produces throughout the year.  This includes the reporting of the recommendations gathered from:

  • SGAC’s global events:  the Space Generation Congress, the Space Generation Fusion Forum and SGx
  • SGAC’s regional and local events: Space Generation Workshop and SG [country]
  • SGAC’s thematic events
  • SGAC’s Project Groups activities

Watch our last statements!

 

Arnau Pons – SGAC Co-Chair

SGAC General Exchange of Views

56th session of the Scientific & Technical Subcommittee of COPUOS

Clémentine Decoopman – SGAC Executive Director

SGAC General Exchange of Views

62nd session of COPUOS

United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA)

SGAC members representing the organisation at the United Nations

SGAC works together with UNOOSA in promoting United Nations workshops and in supporting SGAC members to attend various conferences around the world. Our partnership with UNOOSA is also manifested throughout our networks. Our two institutions are constantly dialoguing and using our reach to promote our work across the entire space sector.

UN Workshops

SGAC members are encouraged to take part in the workshops organised by the United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs. All information can be found here! Check periodically this page for new workshops in your region.

UN Regional Centers

In order to help developing countries to effectively contribute to the solution of the global, regional and national environmental and resource management problems, the United Nations saw the urgent need for a higher level of knowledge and expertise in the relevant disciplines by educators as well as by research and application scientists in these countries. These capabilities could only be acquired through long-term intensive education.

The UN Regional Centers for Space Science and Technology Education are located in Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria (SGAC partner since 2012), India and Jordan. Read more about what these centers can offer to you, or what you can offer to them!

Check the official website here.

UNISPACE+50

UNISPACE+50 celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. It was also an opportunity for the international community to gather and consider the future course of global space cooperation for the benefit of humankind.

UNISPACE+50 coincides with an evolving and ever more complex space agenda, where more participants, both governmental and non-governmental, are increasingly involved in ventures to explore space and carry out space activities.

As a product of UNISPACE III, the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), attributed heightened importance to this conference series and  played an important role in nurturing the dialogue pertaining to UNISPACE+50 and the wider strategic review promoted by UNOOSA.

At UNISPACE+50 SGAC made statements, presentations, had a booth, and was part of the Space and Youth panel. In support of UNISPACE+50, SGAC hosted an anniversary event in Vienna, Austria: the Space Generation Forum 2.0 (SGF 2.0) which was a two-day event focused on the thematic priorities and pillars of UNISPACE+50 including a focus on space for women, the sustainable development goals, space for global health, and more. From SGF 2.0 came a conference room paper entitled “Recommendations from the Space Generation Forum 2.0 and the Space Generation Advisory Council in Support of UNISPACE+50” that was disseminated at UNISPACE+50 and COPUOS in 2018.

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

SGAC is proud to be members of the UN Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) since 2003. In this position, annually SGAC attends the UN General Assembly every year, and represents young professionals and university students in this important world forum. Our SGAC ECOSOC representatives report back on the important recommendations from all UN Member States. 2010 Briefing on Meetings at and Reports by the 65th United Nations General Assembly.