Published on June 30, 2023
The Royal Road to Space Sustainability
The IAF Leadership has joined on 28 June at the Royal Society in London the symposium “Global Leaders on Space Sustainability”, held under the patronage of his Majesty King Charles III and took part in the launch of the “Astra Carta” ground-breaking initiative.
His Majesty King Charles III has been a champion for sustainability and environmental issues. Something tells us that the spirit of the world has been awakened as we see climate protection and sustainability being prioritized more than ever.
After the launch of Terra Carta in 2021 to “put nature at the heart of big business”, time has come for its sister framework - Astra Carta. Leading space actors convened on 28 June at the Royal Society in London at the symposium “Global Leaders on Space Sustainability”, held under the patronage of his Majesty King Charles III, to catalyze a framework to drive sustainability in space and outline how the private sector can work with Governments to deliver on this space endeavour. The Astra Carta framework is a Sustainable Markets initiative that aims to create and build sustainable practices across the global space industry. It also recognizes the role space plays in developing a more sustainable future on Earth, and the need to consider environmental and sustainability impacts beyond our planet.
Dr. Christian Feichtinger, Executive Director of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) together with Dr. Tanja Masson-Zwaan, IAF VP for Science and Academic Relations and Mr. Nobu Okada, IAF VP for Space Economy and Sponsorship, were pleased to have the honor to be invited among the distinguished guests composed of astronauts, governments’ representatives, business leaders, environmentalists, and scientists, and take part in the launch of the “Astra Carta” ground-breaking initiative. Among the invited guests were the Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, British astronaut Tim Peake, the UK’s newest astronaut Rosemary Coogan, the world’s first disabled astronaut John McFall, Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May and representatives from space agencies and other international space institutions worldwide.
The Astra Carta framework in Support of Sustainability in Space was unveiled by his Majesty King Charles III at a reception at Buckingham Palace. While unveiling the seal for the Astra Carta framework, his Majesty the King quipped about making “a mess of this planet”. The fact is that evidence for climate change comes from satellites and the space sector can play a foundational role in climate protection. We, as the global space community, have the responsibility to use green assets such as space technologies, applications and services to benefit planet Earth and humankind.
The Astra Carta will be developed and sent out at the next United Nations Climate Change Conference. The International Astronautical Federation looks forward to contributing to this momentum through its unique vision of “Connecting @ll Space People – For a Sustainable Future”.
Our belief is that sustainability, wherever it takes place on this Earth or in outer space, is necessary and that sustainability can be driven by the private sector and can find a common language with governments and policymakers.
For more information on the Astra Carta, please visit:
https://www.sustainable-markets.org/astra-carta/astra-carta-seal/
https://www.sustainable-markets.org/news/the-launch-of-the-astra-carta/