High Level Fora: Space as a Driver for Socio-Economic Sustainable Development
The first United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE) was held in 1968. The year 2018 marked its fiftieth anniversary, and this was a fitting time to take stock of the contributions of the three UNISPACE conferences (UNISPACE I, held in 1968, UNISPACE II, held in 1982 and UNISPACE III, held in 1999) to global space governance. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and its Legal Subcommittee, supported by the Office for Outer Space Affairs, have, for the past 50 years, contributed extensively to the fostering of international cooperation in space activities at the international, regional, interregional and national levels for the benefit of all countries. At the same time, UNISPACE+50 looked at the perspectives in outer space activities for the next decades.
A series of high level fora: Space as a Driver for Socioeconomic Sustainable Development, organized by the Office for Outer Space Affairs from 2016 through 2018, served as unique opportunities for the collective space community to address the cross-sectoral impact of integrating economic, environmental, social, policy and regulatory dimensions of space in pursuance of global sustainable development.
This series intended to facilitate constructive dialogue between policy-makers and key stakeholders from different parts of the government, civil society, business and industry, among others to address broader perspective of space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy:
The High Level Forum, therefore, represented a unique opportunity for the collective space community to provide guidance and recommendations, which shaped and positioned space activities as drivers for innovation, socio-economic development and diplomacy for a sustainable future. Going forward the World Space Forum has replaced the High Level Forum.
Past events
2018: United Nations/Germany High Level Forum: The way forward after UNISPACE+50 and on Space2030
13 - 16 November 2018, Bonn, Germany
The High Level Forum 2018 in Bonn, Germany provided a unique opportunity to inform all stakeholders on the way forward after UNISPACE+50 and on the implementation of the results of the first United Nations global space summit of the 21st century.
Report of the Workshop
2017: United Nations/United Arab Emirates High Level Forum: Space as a Driver for Socio-Economic Sustainable Development
06 - 09 November 2017, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
As highlighted in the Dubai Declaration, adopted on 24 November 2016 at the High Level Forum: Space as a Driver for Socioeconomic Sustainable Development, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ( A/AC.105/1129) UNISPACE+50 was a milestone opportunity to demonstrate the broad societal benefits of space as an area of innovation, inspiration, interconnectedness, integration and investment, and to strengthen unified efforts at all levels and among all relevant stakeholders in the space sector.
This four-day High Level Forum aimed at building stronger partnerships and international cooperation and coordination in the peaceful uses of outer space at all levels.
Report of the Workshop
2016: United Nations/United Arab Emirates High Level Forum: Space as a Driver for Socio-Economic Sustainable Development
20 - 24 November 2016, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The First High Level Forum aimed to drive debate on the role of space science and technology in fostering global development. The Forum represented a unique opportunity for the collective space community to address the future global space governance leading up to the fiftieth anniversary of the First United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space "UNISPACE+50" in 2018. It was a fitting time to take stock of the contributions of the three UNISPACE conferences, held in 1968, 1982 and 1999 respectively, to global space governance.
Report of the Workshop
2015: The High Level Forum: Space as a Driver for Socio-Economic Sustainable Development - Preparatory Meeting
19 November 2015, Vienna, Austria
This one-day preparatory meeting brought together decision-makers from governments, space agencies, and other high-ranking officials to address the four thematic pillars: space economy, space society, space accessibility, and space diplomacy. Read here the full summary and find here all presentations made during the conference.