SRI News
In an historical session, Karlton Johnson (NSS) gave this speech on behalf of NSS, SRI and 30 space advocacy organizations.
The 18th SDG proposal was announced at COPUOS 66th session, in Wien, the 5 June 2023
On the 5th of June, 2023, the proposal for an 18th Sustainable Development Goal will be presented at U.N. COPUOS, in Vienna, by representatives of the National Space Society, on behalf of 25 organizations who joined the alliance of the co-promoters of the #Space18SDG proposal.Why are we proposing that an 18th SDG should be added to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development? It would be difficult to summarize all of the reasons in a short newsletter, but we will do our best to present these in upcoming newsletters . First of all, none of the 17 SDGs even mention space as a possible key factor supporting development sustainability. Yet, development was nominally the main goal of the U.N. 2030 Agenda, and it also was recognized as a civil right in a resolution adopted by U.N. General Assembly in 1986. Space has been increasingly confirmed as a key sector of the global economy – and perhaps the only sector experiencing spectacular growth in an age characterized by several crises.
Space technologies are already substantially contributing to all of the SDGs, and represent the main contribution to a true inclusivity of all the peoples of planet Earth. A civilian-led space development may substantially contribute to the three pillar SDGs essential for development: the 7th SDG (Affordable and Clean Energy), the 8th SDG (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and the 9th SDG (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Thanks to reusable rockets, the cost to orbit is continuously downsizing, and both orbital and lunar industrial development are becoming increasingly affordable – not only for big corporations, but also for small and medium enterprises. The one trillion dollar threshold will likely be overcome by space economy before 2030, while financial forecasts had anticipated this occurrence in 2040. Surfing the many space news channels on YouTube, we learn that NASA and SpaceX plan to build a $3.7 Trillion Lunar Economy by 2040! This is even more optimistic than our forecast of $3.5 trillion, proposed in 2021 by the 3rd SRI World Congress Thesis.
So, why didn’t U.N. experts reference space when they designed their 2030 Agenda? In partial exoneration of this omission, we could posit that financial experts still didn’t believe (just one year ago) that space was truly rising to such heights (and many of them still don’t believe this!). It was much harder to foresee this before 2015 (when the 2030 Agenda was conceived).
Now, however, it’s time to address these mistakes! Space resources will be key to help sustain development, both on Earth and in space. Even more important, human direct experience in space will be key to help universally improve sustainability in our solar system that, of course, includes Earth in a much broader environment. Dr. Thomas Matula Ph.D, (Sul Ross University, Texas) gave a most inspiring lecture (one week ago) addressing how experiences by communities living in space habitats may be essential to enable human sustainability – not only in space, but also on Earth’s surface. Ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture (as defined by SDG 2) will clearly require the development of new technologies and methodologies. And (what a surprise!) the best environment where humanity can experiment with and apply such technologies and methodologies is in space – inside closed artificial ecosystems, where all the operational variables are predetermined, continuously monitored and controlled. Increasing crops yield will be essential, as well as improving the cycles of water and oxygen, to help reduce water waste, as well as to assure high sanitation standards (SDG 6). An entirely new culture of recyclable elements and a circular economy will be designed and implemented. And where will such innovations be mandatory? In space habitats – both on planetary surfaces and in orbital (spinning) infrastructures. Sustainable space habitats will require high yield agriculture, and near 100% water and materials recycling. They also will need to extract resources from very “low-grade” sources. The lessons learned by space farmers communities will subsequently benefit terrestrial farmers, forest planners and ecologists – providing sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, enabling sustainably managed forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, and halting biodiversity loss (SDG 15). It has been estimated that a combined use of Ultra High Yield Agriculture technologies and methodologies may help overcome (by several orders of magnitude) the results achieved by the 1970’s green revolution. Climate-controlled buildings isolated from natural environments (with optimized conditions regarding light, water, nutrients, atmosphere, temperature, humidity, and the spacing of plants) will help eliminate threats from insects, weeds, and plant diseases. The space green revolution will help increase yields 10 to 50 times more than traditional agriculture systems, enhance the potential for harvests year round, promote a 90% reduction in needed land, and enable a 95% reduction in the use of water. Taken together, this will definitely be worth the investment!
[English language editing by: Jim Crisafulli]
[Contributions by: Tom Matula, Al Anzaldua]
12 June 2023: An 18th SDG: Space for All, on Earth and Beyond
During the 1st #Space18SDG virtual event, all of the promoters will provide their “why” humanity needs an 18th SDG. Follow the livestream on the Space Renaissance Youtube channel
Click ‘going’ to the Facebook event
Sign the #Space18SDG pledge: https://www.change.org/space18sdg
Add your organization to the promoters group
Please don’t forget to support the Space Renaissance:
Join the SRI Crew: https://spacerenaissance.space/membership/international-membership-registration/
Donate some money: https://spacerenaissance.space/donate-to-space-renaissance/
Watch and subscribe the Space Renaissance YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@spacerenaissance
Also download a pdf copy of this article
Want to comment and discuss? Join the SRI Open Forum (WARNING: you declare to be fully tolerant to receive emails and discussions).
Space Renaissance International has recently launched a world-wide campaign for adding an 18th SDG to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. Our initiative suddenly resulted to be in tune with similar initiatives, undertaken by other space advocacy organizations, e.g. the National Space Society of USA, and many others. All of these promoter organizations are now working to a joined campaign. Two initial milestones will be the presentation, by the NSS, of the #Space18SDG to the COPUOS (the United Nations Committee for the Peaceful Use of Outer Space) the first week of June, and a panel organized by SRI at the UN General Assembly in New York, for the 18 of September.
“Space for All, on Earth and Beyond, a civilian-led space development, with human communities living and working in outer space to expand and multiply benefits to all the peoples of Earth.
The above is the main concept supporting our proposal, trying to make it evident, in few words, that, though we praise and consider very important the huge contribution so far given by space technologies to the achievement of the Earthly 17 SDGs, we think that they will not be enough to overcome the global crisis of human development on our mother planet, should humanity remain closed and confined inside its limits.
We know that it will not be easy to make a space 18th SDG to be added to the U.N. 2030 Agenda. Since its very first steps, our initiative raised criticisms and objections. Yet we believe that our initiative is very opportune and timely, while the U.N. are going to a review of the SDGs, likely within 2025, a kind of mid term milestone, on the 2030 road-map. Furthermore, the #Space18SDG initiative will offer to the space movement a perfect opportunity to explain a simple concept still hidden and mystified in the public opinion at large: that 8 billion terrestrials can any longer make it on one only planet, and that we urgently need to start expanding, moving our development outside.The New Space Economy is gaining momentum, and each year it exceeds and contradicts expert predictions made by the experts: the dimension of $1 trillion will likely be achieved not in 2040, but before 2030 already.
The New Space Economy is confirming itself as the most dynamic sector, de facto leading the global economy to grow up, giving a chance to SDGs 7, 8 and 9 (energy, industrial development and jobs) to make their essential job, sustaining all of the social SDGs (no poverty, no hunger, etc…). All of the social SDGs need growth. The environmental SDGs, as well, need energy and technological growth, to be implemented. Yet industrial and economic growth, if closed inside the Earth’s boundaries, dramatically conflict with the environmental SDGs. In fact, the web society needs more energy, not less. The electrical mobility increases the demand of electric energy as well. The electronic society, in general terms, needs some materials, that can be mined in few places on Earth: resource wars just changed their subject, from oil to rare earths… conflicts and violent confrontations are increasing, not decreasing.
A civilian-led space development will solve, in perspective, both the above issues, and many others. Firstly, abundant resources, including rare earths and many other precious materials, can be found on the Moon and on many asteroids, ending the shortage on raw materials for the production of electronic components. That will contribute to peace on Earth, to increase jobs and to restart economic growth. On a second consideration, progressively moving industries into the geo-lunar space, we will relieve planet Earth’s environment from the burden of industrial development, allowing mother Earth to take a breath and possibly recover from climate crisis and pollution. Third, moving industries outside will halve the energy demand on Earth’s surface, since industries will take energy supply in space, directly from the Sun, and the energy demand on Earth will be just the private citizens demand.Last, but not least, expanding civilization into outer space will re-ignite creativity in all the peoples of planet Earth. The young generations suffered too much, during the last years, due to the covid19 pandemics and now for the raising wars and violent confrontations. The education systems were jeopardized everywhere. Though new distant learning techniques were developed, many students lost their interest, and school dropout raised, as well as psychological issues, in a general sentiment of fear and distrust of the future.
The launch of big projects, building on the Moon, in the Lagrange points and beyond will rekindle the hope and the enthusiasm of the young generations, motivating new waves of engineers, humanist philosophers, scientists, technicians.
Will our children tomorrow be astronauts? That was the Apollo age, when kids watched Buzz Aldrin walking on the Moon and dreamed of being astronauts… The vast majority will now be space citizen, and space workers. Space citizens will need civil rights to be extended into outer space. Space workers will claim their rights too. Living and working in space, will we be protected from cosmic radiations? Will we have simulated gravity, to avoid decay of our bones and muscles? Will we have green environments in the space habitats?
The 18th SDG demands all of the above, to give more priority to the related scientific research. And more, we also propose the history of space and of the scientific research to be added to all of the educational programs, from Primary to University. We need to teach the history of love, not just of aggressions, colonizations, empires and wars. Our children have to learn the history of the people who dedicated their life to humanity, for the progress of civilization. The 18th Sustainable Development Goal shall bring onboard this great educational value too.
This campaign “Space4all on Earth and beyond” can develop the action plan we agreed at 2021 SRI Congress, fostering space science, technology, economy and jobs, international collaboration, peace, resources, inspiration, education training, and de facto a space renaissance.
Bernard Foing, SRI, President
Adriano V. Autino, SRI, Founder and former President
Sign the #Space18SDG pledge: https://www.change.org/space18sdg
Add your organization to the promoters group: https://spacerenaissance.space/sign-the-18th-sdg/
Please don’t forget to support the Space Renaissance:
Join the SRI Crew: https://spacerenaissance.space/membership/international-membership-registration/
Donate some money: https://spacerenaissance.space/donate-to-space-renaissance/
Watch and subscribe the Space Renaissance YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@spacerenaissance
Many many Wishes to all the Space Renaissance Friends, Supporters and Members everywhere they are!
I wish you a serene and joyful Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever recurrence you’re going to celebrate, and a Great Spaceal 2023!
After eating and drinking during the various celebrations, take some minutes for reflection. I wish you that your mind was driven to think about the absurd yet exciting times we are living. Among the absurdities we may list the waste of money and human lives in wars aimed to conquer territories on Earth surface, instead of moving outside, in the outer space, to achieve new space and resources for every earther citizens. Also, let’s think about the absurdity of a police corps that call themselves “the moral police” while raping and killing a 14 years old girl… Where is morality in rape and murder??
Among the thrilling things we may list the first orbital flight of the Space X’s Starship, the first fully reusable space vehicle! We wish very much that it can happen as soon as possible, opening the way to civilian space development. Such event will be a powerful antidote against the rape of morality and the rape of the logic of language. Flying to orbit, Starship will smash and revert the perverse de-growthist slope, breaking the absurd evil spell that is smothering our civilization.
Dear SRI friends and supporters, in these days we are experiencing, let’s say, a troubled weather! Last, but not least, our beloved Manny (Manuel Perez, president of Space Renaissance USA) sadly passed away at just 69, while he still had so many things to do…
Now we have to work harder, also in order to carry ahead, and upwards, the mission of developing the space renaissance, to which Manny dedicated a meaningful part of his life.
Developing the space renaissance chiefly means to build Space Renaissance, our organization, and assure the sustainability of our program for 2023.
— Press release by Space Renaissance International – November 22nd 2022 —
Manuel Perez “Manny”, the President of Space Renaissance USA, passed away the 21st of November 2022, at the age of 69, following a long illness.
Manny was a great space activist, embracing a broad, generous, humanist vision of the world and humanity.
For all of us, in the Space Renaissance community, Manny has been a fond friend, who never failed to provide assistance to enhance our outreach to the global community, making complex things simple to be understood and shared by our first interlocutor: the people, human society, at large.
All of the supporters and friends of Space Renaissance are warmly invited to the SRI Giving Tuesday – 29 November 2022, from 17:00 to 22:00 UTC, in a mini-marathon Zoom meeting.
The meeting will also be livestreamed on the Space Renaissance TV YouTube channel.
All of the participants will have the possibility to talk, asking questions, discussing about any space topics, and also tell us what they think about SRI, our outreach activities, the efficacy of our arguments, the usefulness of our initiatives to UN, to IAF, to ISU and the Academic world, in which measure we are reaching the large public opinion, and… donate some money to SRI!
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