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
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