Lawtitude

Introduction
The acceleration of climate change has reshaped ecosystems, economies, and societies worldwide. Within the past few years, using space as a medium has been shown to bring novel advanced technologies and insights that have played a pivotal role in the evolution of data interpretation as a whole. One of the specific aims of the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, known in its abbreviated form as UNCOPUOS, is to stimulate the peaceful and sustainable use of space. It uniquely deals with and monitors the environmental challenges of space activities, particularly concerning space debris and the impact of rocket launches on the environment. UNCOPUOS strategically manages humanity’s increasing presence in outer space and supports space technology for climate monitoring and response. Its role in maintaining a space of exploration with environmental stewardship raises the importance and reassurance it brings in uncertain times, which puts forward the topic of climate change, whose uncertainty has become more certain every minute. 

Understanding UNCOPUOS and Its Mandate
The UN General Assembly created UNCOPUOS in 1959 to supervise the exploration and use of outer space, focusing on the peaceful use of outer space for everyone’s benefit with international cooperation. It had an easily stated mandate at the start: no militarization of outer space and open to every country. The committee has expanded its aim to create guidelines for space activities that are safe, peaceful, and equitable over the years. It has been acclaimed over significant milestones, as the committee has been laureled for the drafting of the Outer Space Treaty in 1967, which laid down some founding principles, such as prohibiting weaponry in space of mass destruction and proclaiming that no nation or people could possibly appropriate outer space under the sovereignty of their rule. Another key document is the 1979 Moon Agreement, which states that all space resources are owned by mankind and must be utilized to the advantage of all humankind. The committee further developed guidelines for the long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities related to space debris, management of space traffic, and responsible behaviour in orbit. UNCOPUOS is increasingly entrusted with addressing the environmental impact of space activities, considering their contribution to and potential solutions for climate change.

The Environmental Impact of Space Activities
Although it is known for its valuable resources for understanding and addressing climate change, space activities have been highlighted several times for generating environmental issues. The environmental issues related to the space industry’s growth include emissions, debris, and orbital congestion, and they have constantly been represented as a threat to the operation of satellites and the International Space Station. Orbital congestion, in turn, raises the risk of collision, resulting in more debris and potential damage to operational spacecraft. These issues have implications that reach into orbit and return to Earth, making one call for responsible and sustainable space activities. Space debris is another primary concern. Dead satellites, fragmentation of broken-up objects, and spent rocket stages pollute Earth’s orbits. This ‘space junk’ endangers operational satellites, the International Space Station, and future space missions. As more countries and private groups venture into space, this debris problem will likely worsen. Fragmentations from collisions can lead to further fragmentations in a Kessler syndrome, which might render some orbits unusable and affect climate-monitoring satellites.

This has sparked questions on ethics and environmental impacts. Although other activities like asteroid mining are not yet common, there is a potential for contamination and resource depletion that may harm the pristine space environment. Such activities may worsen the environmental impact and interfere with the use of space for peaceful and scientific purposes if carried out irresponsibly.

Opportunities for Climate Action Through Space-Based Initiatives
Despite these environmental concerns, space activities have been necessary for climate action. Satellites have transformed how we see, understand, and respond to Earth’s environmental change. UNCOPUOS has driven climate actions through continuous monitoring and new uses of space-based technology.

Satellites provide critical information that increases our knowledge of climate change. Satellites monitor atmospheric conditions and measure greenhouse gas emissions; they track deforestation and measure ocean health, providing data points that ground-based instruments alone cannot provide. For example, the European Space Agency’s Sentinel satellites monitor land and sea conditions and help in providing crucial information for global climate models. This information is usually processed through space-based climate monitoring, where scientists and policymakers can see trends in real time, allowing for timely responses and adaptations to climate change impacts.

Disaster management is supported by space technology, particularly its early detection and response system. Severe weather-forecasting conditions like hurricanes, droughts, or wildfires are tracked via satellite imaging in advance of the possibilities when such might happen. Satellites offered enlightening imagery on the Australian bushfires in 2019-2020 as useful data to track the spreading effects, damage evaluation, and issue orders before any operation regarding timely interventions. UNCOPUOS, therefore, in its capability through the collaboration on the implementation of international disaster management strategies on satellites and information exchanges, can be said to save people and mitigate impacts in disaster conditions. Space-based initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially in climate action, life on land, and life below water. Satellites provide data for SDG indicators, such as tracking forest cover to assess progress toward halting deforestation. UNCOPUOS can coordinate to ensure that space activities continue to support these global sustainability objectives, creating a cohesive strategy for using space-based data to address Earth’s environmental challenges.

The Role of UNCOPUOS in Shaping Sustainable Space Policies
With increasing scales and diversities of space activities, the pressing need for sustainable policies regulating these activities has also increased. It is very important to have UNCOPUOS leadership formulate such policies and ensure their effective implementation to minimize the environmental impact of space exploration so that space may remain available for peaceful and scientific purposes. The committee has already set foundational treaties and guidelines for responsible space behaviour, but specific policies would be necessary to address environmental risks. The growing numbers of spacefaring entities make it increasingly pressing to have guidelines on space debris minimization, lowering emissions from launches, and the responsible de-orbiting of satellites. With such frameworks, the committee can help reduce environmental risks from space activities and nudge cleaner technologies.

Climate change and space exploration are intrinsically international issues, and UNCOPUOS advocates cooperation. The connection between space policy and climate science can be tied together through the interaction between the committee and other agencies of the UN, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – IPCC. This ties together the enforcement of shared responsibility in environmental stewardship.

The committee has also contributed to stimulating innovative activities that have diminished the harmful effects of space activities on the environment. Examples of such activities include research in “green” rocket propellants, satellite devices that ensure better de-orbiting and debris-cleaning technologies, which have reduced the ecological footprint of space missions. UNCOPUOS’s interaction with scientific organizations and space agencies can help them develop new technologies to ensure sustainable use of space so that the advantages gained from space exploration do not adversely affect the Earth’s environment.

India’s Approach to Environmental Space Policies 
India has been at the forefront of fully incorporating environmental priorities into its space policies through its space agency, ISRO. Its established satellite programs, from the Indian National Satellite System, or INSAT, to IRS satellites, have thus far provided valuable data regarding indicators of climate change, such as sea-level rise, deforestation, and air quality, thereby supporting climate resilience and disaster management in general. Significantly, INSAT-3DR helps track cyclones and atmospheric studies, making India better prepared for climate-induced disasters. Its framework includes monitoring natural events in near real-time through the Disaster Management Support program and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) concerning disaster response. India also conducts international climate-focused missions, like the Megha-Tropiques satellite with France, where studies on tropical weather patterns and valuable climate data are being contributed. ISRO has taken sustainability into its missions by exploring eco-friendly propulsion systems and efficiently developing launch vehicles for minimal emissions, such as the PSLV and SSLV.

Being an active contributor to international climate frameworks, India provides earth-observation data to institutions like the UN and IPCC that benefit global climate models. A signatory to UNCOPUOS since the very beginning, India is now in a fantastic position to shape sustainable space policies in areas such as space debris management, satellite decommissioning, and climate-focused missions because of its climate vulnerability and its increasing space capability to further international environment governance agendas. 

The Challenges in Implementing Environmental-Based Space Policies
International space regulation cannot easily be enforced, and it is even more difficult because of the growing proliferation of private companies. UNCOPUOS and other bodies provide guidelines concerning sustainability, but these remain primarily nonbinding and lack serious enforceability. Rapid increases in private companies’ launches add to the difficulties since smaller actors might not meet environmental standards, increasing risks such as space debris and orbital congestion. Less advanced technology and resources also limit the application of sustainable space practice. Clean propulsion, debris mitigation, and decommissioning are highly expensive, complex, and, therefore, out of reach for new nations or smaller companies. Advanced sustainable technologies are developing as biodegradable materials and low-impact fuels. Still, budget pushes many space programs to make their mission goals seem more important than needs for the environment.

Sustainability in space can only be achieved from a holistic standpoint rather than just depending on governments alone. Other than the government, research centres and other nongovernmental organizations play a huge role in the responsible use of space. Collective actions promote innovation and foster a sense of responsibility, encouraging the whole industry to adopt sound environmental practices and achieve a sustainable future through space activities.

Conclusion: Shaping a Sustainable Future Using Space
The challenge of space activities and climate action standing on the contradiction of being simultaneously an opportunity and a challenge itself for space activities; meanwhile, the organization continues its journey toward understanding the environmental impacts and ensuring the responsible stewardship of exploration where benefits from space technology to climate action easily weigh heavier than their environmental cost. By promoting international cooperation, guiding sustainable policy development, and advocating for space innovation, UNCOPUOS can serve as a critical stakeholder in protecting our planet and shared outer space environment. Perhaps the future of climate action will be written in part from space.