United NationsOffice for Outer Space Affairs

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STATEMENT BY SIMONETTA DI PIPPO

DIRECTOR

UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR OUTER SPACE AFFAIRS

56th Session of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee

of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space

11 February 2019

Vienna, Austria

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

On behalf of the Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), I warmly welcome you all to the fifty-sixth session of the Subcommittee and thank you for the opportunity to address this session on the work of the Office. I would like to assure you Madam Chair of our commitment to assist you in running the meetings. At the outset, I join you in welcoming Cyprus, Ethiopia, Finland, Mauritius and Paraguay as new State members of the Committee, and the European Union, International Organization of Standardization, CANEUS-International and For All Moonkind, as the newest observer organizations to the Committee.

Indeed, the growth in membership of the Committee is remarkable. Membership grew by nearly 25% since 2014, rising from 74 to 92 States members. This makes our Committee a fast-growing body in the United Nations system and this accelerating growth testifies the increasing importance Member States of the United Nations assign to this unique intergovernmental platform. If we look at the distribution of members by regional group, we can also see that the overall composition is fairly balanced. There are currently 19 African States; 23 Asia-Pacific States; 12 Eastern European States, 15 Latin America and Caribbean States; and 23 Western European and Other States. The membership of the Committee is moreover representative of major space-faring nations, emerging space nations and space middle powers.

Currently, the Committee has 41 observer organizations comprising 11 international inter-governmental organizations and 30 international non-governmental organizations. These are impressive figures witnessing the importance of our work in the Committee and its Subcommittees to the space community.

UNOOSA receives on a regular basis interests from potential new States members, as well as international organizations that qualify as becoming observers to the Committee. Request for information on membership and observer status procedures are dealt with on a priority basis tailored to the interest of the States and organizations concerned.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

Today 11 February we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, declared by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution 70/212. We will acknowledge this important event with a high-level panel discussion today at lunch-time. I invite you all to attend.

Here I wish to emphasise that to help address Sustainable Development Goal 5 in an all-inclusive manner, UNOOSA has initiated a dedicated 'Space4Women' project in order to facilitate access to STEM education, capacity-building and training for women and girls particularly on access to and use of space technology. This approach serves also very well SDG4, quality education. The development of "Space4Women" endeavours to establish a leading platform for gender equality in the space sector, which is a firm priority of UNOOSA, and which must be seen in close coordination with other core priorities of the Office, that I will present to you in a minute. Allow me first to express my thanks for the support received from Austria, Israel, the European Space Agency and Women in Aerospace Europe for this important project. I encourage others to join the Office in facilitating the entry of more young females into the space sector through this initiative.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

Of the many contributions to the success of UNISPACE+50 I would like to extend my warmest appreciation to our generous host country Austria for its steadfast support. Going forward, and building upon this legacy, we could explore ideas of using the two days preceding the COPUOS sessions, as we did in 2018, for a dialogue with the broader space community - in fostering partnership - including the private sector.

I also wish to bring your attention to the brand new outreach hub on our website, where we hope to present in the near future a comprehensive list of space agencies around the world. Currently, we have 20 countries represented and 3 regional entities. We are actively reaching out to all space agencies to ensure this resource is as comprehensive as possible. National space agencies not represented, and wishing to be added, are warmly encouraged to contact us.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

Research shows that around 40% of the 169 targets behind the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) benefit from the use of geo-location and earth observation satellites. With the inclusion of telecommunication satellites, this statistic rises substantially. The global space sector is evolving rapidly across political, legal and technical aspects. The United Nations needs to keep pace. Considering the expected future challenges of maintaining effective governance of space activities, I wish to outline the following strategic priority areas for 2019:

1. Strengthening support to Member States, through UNOOSA, as the gateway to space in the United Nations;
2. Expanding delivery and services on space-based information for disaster management;
3. Working with Member States to ensure that technical, legal and policy frameworks are maintained to ensure that space activities remain safe, secure and sustainable, and provide targeted capacity-building in space law and policy to that effect;
4. Enhancing advocacy to deliver strategic coordination and awareness on 'Space4SDGs'; and
5. Continue to increase benefits from space activities through the "Access to Space for All" initiative.

Identifying and meeting user needs is key in all those areas. I wish to thank here New Zealand for its commitment in building partnerships for the needs of Pacific States. Likewise, the Space4Water portal, launched in 2018 together with the Prince Sultan Bin Abdulazis International Price for Water (PSIPW) brings new dimensions to global water management addressing at the same time SDG6.

In the past 45 years of the Programme on Space Applications (PSA) and 12 years of the United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER), UNOOSA has collected and assessed user needs; responded to governmental requirements through advisory missions; and organized training workshops and conferences. I would like here to express my sincere gratitude to Austria, China and Germany for their long-standing support to UN-SPIDER. Allow me also to reiterate the global need for accessing space-based data for disaster risk reduction and emergency response is growing and we remain committed to expanding this donor base going forward so we can continue to meet the demand from Member States for these services.

Likewise, since 2005 the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) has promoted cooperation on civil satellite-based positioning, navigation and interoperability among the GNSS systems. I would like to thank all partners involved through the organization of annual meetings of ICG, and in particular, express my gratitude to the United States of America and the European Commission for their long-standing financial support to this important work of the Office. I also wish to bring to your attention the successful partnership established with the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) and the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN). Here, I particularly wish to thank the European Space Agency. I am confident that our summer school, currently scheduled for spring 2020, at Erice, Sicily, Italy will bring educational incentives to the near-Earth object agenda.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

Space as an innovative approach should provide answers to a country's needs. However, space-related infrastructure, data, information and integrated services will play crucial roles only if they become an essential and integral part of a whole society effort to achieve the SDGs. UNOOSA focuses on position space as an invaluable tool to support the implementation of the SDGs - Space4SDGs - which is a core action to meet the increasing demand for enhanced services. Meeting the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will require a stronger role of science, technology and innovations (STI). This is being recognised at the highest level within the UN system. In 2018 we saw the Secretary-General launch three key strategy documents, with space contributing to each of them, as follows:

First: The Secretary-General released his New Technologies Strategy. Targeted at the UN system itself, the strategy outlines a path to modernising the UN by facilitating the adoption of more cutting-edge technology such as Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain technology into the programmatic activities across the UN system. Recognising the roll that space technology and applications can play, not least in the provision of data sets to enable Artificial Intelligence systems to have real impact, it is with great pleasure that I report to you that the Executive Office of the Secretary-General invited UNOOSA to join the internal group advising and guiding implementation of the strategy.

Second: The Secretary-General launched a new Disarmament Agenda, specifically calling for UNOOSA to work hand in hand with our colleagues at the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and UN Institute for Disarmament Research to deepen their engagement with Member States on the practical implementation of transparency and confidence-building measures in outer-space activities.

Third: A key policy document recently launched by the Secretary-General was the Youth 2030 strategy. Focussing on opening the UN system to the next generation, the strategy calls upon all UN entities to consider how they can contribute to these aims. It is my pleasure to confirm that UNOOSA has been in the position to respond quickly to this call. Over the next few months, we will be collaborating with our colleagues at the Space Generation Advisory Council to launch a project to engage with global youth, encouraging them to share their stories about space science and technology supporting the implementation of the SDGs in their countries.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

Our activities engaging directly with the broader space sector continue to go from strength to strength. As an example and part of the "Access to Space for All" initiative, UNOOSA started a new partnership with Airbus Defence and Space to offer the opportunity to accommodate a payload on the Airbus Bartolomeo external platform on the International Space Station. The mission is targeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will be open to all Member States, and developing countries are particularly encouraged to participate. The platform will operate payloads provided by institutions in the participating countries. A Call for Interest (CFI) was launched at the end of 2018 to solicit information from Member States' entities interested in providing payloads that could be flown on this mission. The Office has received 63 expressions of interest covering all regions of the world. SDG9 on industry, innovation and infrastructure scored the highest rate.

This collaboration forms part of a growing portfolio of opportunities, including our partnerships with the China Manned Space Agency to open the China Space Station to emerging space-faring nations for orbital opportunities. We welcomed over 40 applications received to the first announcement of opportunity. Such activities are complemented by other established collaborations with partners such as the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) with which we are working towards a Dream Chaser Mission dedicated to emerging space-faring nations. Further, our work with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and the pioneering achievements of our joint KiboCUBE project saw Kenya launch its first satellite in May last year. Allow me to thank each and every one of our partners who we are already working with for their support to expand the opportunities the Office can offer to emerging space-faring nations.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

I have in this address outlined some features of the work of the Office. The annex with appendices to this statement contains comprehensive information complementing this statement. As the UN hub for space affairs, UNOOSA works every day with the global space community to deliver the benefits of space to everyone, everywhere. Our staff complement is key and here I wish to express my profound gratitude to Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Turkey, United States of America, and PSIPW for their contributions to the Office with resources that support our current staffing levels.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

Lastly, in an effort to increase awareness of fundamental space science research and space exploration efforts to the broader space community, the Office has entered into a formalized cooperation with the Committee on Space research (COSPAR). Office staff with relevant competence have been elected by the COSPAR Bureau to serve as Vice-Chairs of the Panel on Planetary Protection and Panel on Space Weather, respectively. The Panel on Planetary Protection held its first formal meeting under the re-constituted Panel here at the Vienna International Centre in January this year. Upcoming meetings will be held here in Vienna.

Madam Chair, distinguished delegates,

In concluding, let me reassure you of the full support of the Office for Outer Space Affairs. We stand ready, as always, to support Member States in space science, technology, law and policy, thus covering the full spectrum of global governance of outer space activities.

Thank you.

Annex

HIGHLIGHTS OF SUBSTANTIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE OFFICE

United Nations Programme on Space Applications

Please refer to Appendix I and II to the present document, as well as to documents and reports referenced in the annotated provisional agenda in A/AC.105/C.1/L.373.

United Nations Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER)

Please refer to Appendix I and II to the present document, and to document A/AC.105/1190.

Activities of the Office for Outer Space Affairs in the framework of the workplan of the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Please refer to Appendix I and II to the present document, and to documents A/AC.105/1191 and A/AC.105/1192.

Fellowships

Please refer to Appendix I and II to the present document.

Regional Centres for Space Science and Technology Education, affiliated to the United Nations

Please refer to Appendix I and II to the present document.

Cooperation Agreements

The following agreements have been negotiated and signed between the Office for Outer Space Affairs and various parties in 2018:

• Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Collaboration between the United Nations, represented by the Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA), and the Italian Space Agency (ASI) (in Force as of 26 February 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and Committee on Space Research (19 March 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Represented by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and Caneus International on the Rules- And Principles-Based Cooperation in Promoting Partnerships Between OOSA and Industry and the Private Sector (17 April 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and Spacetrust (4 June 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and Airbus Defence and Space GmbH (18 June 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the German Aerospace Centre (18 June 2018);
• Amendment No. 1 to the Framework Agreement between the United Nations, represented by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, and the China Manned Space Agency concerning Cooperation on the Utilization of China's Space Station (19 June 2018);
• Declaration of intent to cooperate on the Belt and Road Space Information Corridor between the United Nations, Represented by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, and the China National Space Administration (19 June 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding Between the United Nations and Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (21 June 2019);
• Letter of Agreement from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for Funding Secretariat Support Services to the International Committee on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (ICG) (4 September 2018);
• Letter of Grant to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs from the Government of New Zealand to support the Space Solutions for the Pacific Project (22 October 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and Universita Bocconi (8 November 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding Between the United Nations and the World Space Week Association (22 November 2018);
• Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education of the Portuguese Republic and the Ad-Air Centre for Cooperation in the Field of Space Technology, Applications and Data Utilisation (27 November 2018).

Exchange of Letters

In 2018, for conducting its activities outside of the established headquarters of the United Nations, the Office concluded host country agreements through the exchange of letters with the Governments of Argentina, Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Pakistan and Russian Federation.

Awareness-raising and Outreach

Please refer to Appendix I and II to the present document.

RESOURCES OF THE OFFICE

Human Resources overview

Financial resources overview

Regular Budget
Thousands of United States dollars

Extra-budgetary
Thousands of United States dollars