IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT THROUGH USE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY STRESSED IN FOURTH COMMITTEE DEBATE

Press Release
GA/SPD/140

IMPORTANCE OF ECOLOGICAL MONITORING AND PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT THROUGH USE OF SPACE TECHNOLOGY STRESSED IN FOURTH COMMITTEE DEBATE

Issues relating to the protection of the environment and the ecological system must be among the important areas of international cooperation for which the extensive use of modern space science and technology was required, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) was told this morning as it began consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

The representative of Kazakhstan added that for her country, which had experienced the ecological disaster of the Aral Sea, the use of outer space technology for ecological monitoring and protection of the environment was of great importance. Problems caused by the shortage of drinking water and progressive soil degradation, as well as economic damage caused by natural disasters and catastrophes brought about by technology, were becoming global in nature.

The representative of Malaysia said the peaceful use of outer space could only be achieved through further development of international space law and strengthening of international cooperation. Emphasis should be placed on transparency in outer space activities, as well as on the exchange of data and equitable sharing of space benefits between developed and developing countries. Malaysia called on Member States to pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space debris and man-made space objects, including defunct satellites and those with nuclear power sources.

Referring to the upcoming Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III), the representative of China said the Conference should not neglect the relevant political, social and legal issues when considering space-related science and technology. It was true that the participation of the space industry and private enterprises was important, but there should not be an excessive mingling of commercial factors in international cooperation. National governments should shoulder a special responsibility for promoting space- related cooperation, he added.

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Also, this morning, the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Raimundo Gonzalez Aninat (Chile) read a statement on behalf of the Chairman of that Committee, U.R. Rao (India).

Statements were also made by the representatives of Austria (on behalf of the European Union and associated States), Tunisia, Japan, Syria, India and Chile.

The Fourth Committee will meet again at 3 p.m. on Monday 26 October.

Committee Work Programme

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) met this morning to begin its consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

The Committee had before it a report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of the recommendations of the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (document A/53/265), which provides information on progress made in implementing the Second United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE 82).

According to the report, the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space noted that the Working Group of the Whole to Evaluate the Implementation of the Recommendations of UNISPACE 82 had refined or interpreted several recommendations of that Conference, making them more specific to facilitate their implementation. As a result, good progress had been achieved, notably in areas including: arrangement of a fellowship programme for organization of in-depth training courses and workshops on advanced applications of space science and technology; enhancement of international and regional cooperation in space-related activities; promotion of a greater exchange of actual experiences and cooperation in space science and technology; and the establishment of regional centres for space science and technology education in each economic region.

The report states that among the activities carried out or planned under the 1998 United Nations Programme on Space Application, in cooperation with other United Nations bodies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and governments of Member States, are training courses, workshops, conferences, symposiums and seminars; the United Nations Asia-Pacific Regional Preparatory Conference for the Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE III); the Eighth United Nations International Training Course on Remote Sensing Education for Educators; and the United Nations Latin and Caribbean Regional Preparatory Conference for UNISPACE III.

According to the report, the Programme -- in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs -- has also provided or is providing assistance in implementing a pilot programme to enable scientists from Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Latin America and the Caribbean to receive and utilize European Remote Sensing Satellite data in sustainable development projects; to the Republic of Korea for the growth and operation of the Asia-Pacific Satellite Communications Council; and to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in developing a project proposal for the management of large marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa.

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In promoting the development of indigenous capability, the report says, seven long-term fellowships will be awarded for in-depth training of individuals from developing countries. For the 1998-1999 period, China has offered two fellowships, and the European Space Agency has renewed its offer of fellowships.

The report also says further progress has been made to augment the International Space Information Service through the development of the homepage on the Internet. The homepage of the Office for Outer Space Affairs currently contains information on all the space-related legal instruments adopted by the General Assembly, and information on the subsidiary bodies, including the latest information on UNISPACE III and a "frequently asked questions" page where common questions relating to the United Nations and outer space are answered.

Also before the Fourth Committee was the report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (document A/53/20), which describes the outcome of its 1998 session, and reviews preparations for UNISPACE III and the work of its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and Legal Subcommittee.

In that report, the Committee says it continued its priority consideration of ways of maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. Current efforts should be continued to strengthen its role in maintaining outer space for peaceful purposes. The Committee should also complement and contribute to the work of the Conference on Disarmament, considering the overlap between the peaceful uses of outer space and questions relating to disarmament.

The report says that in its role as Preparatory Committee for UNISPACE III, the Committee agreed that the Conference should be convened at the United Nations Office in Vienna from 19 to 30 July 1999 as a special session of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and that it should be open to all Member States. It also endorsed the recommendations of the Working Group of the Whole of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee as contained in its report (see document A/AC.105/697 and Corr.1, annex II, paras. 13-43), and the Legal Subcommittee concerning its contributions to UNISPACE III. The Preparatory Committee noted that, following its current session, the Secretariat would send invitations and information relating to UNISPACE III to Member States, including information on the space exhibition.

According to the report, the Committee recommended that the United Nations, through the Office for Outer Space Affairs, should continue to provide all necessary support, within the limits of its existing resources, to the regional centres. Among other developments, the Committee noted that discussions among Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey had led to the establishment of a network of institutions dealing with space science and technology education and research. It also noted with

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satisfaction that the United Nations Programme on Space Applications had continued to co-sponsor symposiums and workshops.

On the issue of remote sensing, including applications for developing countries, the Committee stressed the importance of making remote-sensing data and analysis available to all countries at a reasonable cost and in a timely manner. It also recognized the example of international cooperation in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in the exchange of meteorological data.

Regarding the use of nuclear power sources in outer space, the Committee also agreed that regular discussions on the issue should continue at future sessions of the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee, the report says. The Subcommittee should continue to receive the widest input on matters affecting the use of nuclear power sources in outer space, as well as contributions for improving the scope and applications of the Principles Relevant to the Use of Nuclear Power Sources in Outer Space (as defined in General Assembly resolution 47/68 of 14 December 1992).

The report says that the Committee agreed with its Scientific and Technical Subcommittee that consideration of space debris was important, and that international cooperation was needed to expand appropriate and affordable strategies to minimize the potential impact of space debris on future missions. It was essential for Member States to pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space objects, including those with nuclear power sources.

On the topic of space transportation systems, the report says the Committee stressed the importance of international cooperation in space transportation in order to provide all countries with access to the benefits of space science and technology. It also noted with concern the emerging commercial activity of burials in space, which was currently provided by a commercial company that had at least two scheduled flights a year.

The report says the Subcommittee had continued, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 52/56, to consider the items concerning matters relating to life sciences, including space medicine; progress in national and international space activities related to the Earth environment; and matters relating to planetary exploration and astronomy. The Committee had considered the theme fixed for the 1998 session of the Subcommittee, which would be "Scientific and technical aspects and applications of space-based meteorology".

According to the report, the Legal Subcommittee continued its discussion of the definition of outer space and use of the geostationary orbit. The Committee noted that various views had been expressed on the question of the definition and delimitation of outer space during the thirty-seventh session

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of the Subcommittee. Some delegates felt that the Legal Subcommittee should continue its consideration of the legal issues relating to aerospace objects.

The report states that the Committee noted the view of the Chairman of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States that the item on the character and utilization of the geostationary orbit was of particular interest to the countries of that regional group, and that it should continue to be considered by the Committee and its Subcommittee. Some delegations reiterated the view that the geostationary orbit, because of its particular characteristics, required a special legal regime to regulate access by all States, taking into account the needs of developing countries.

The report includes the view of some delegations that the review by the Legal Subcommittee of the status of the international legal instruments governing outer space could lead to the identification of additional agenda items aimed at the substantive review of those instruments. Other delegations reiterated the view that the five international legal instruments governing outer space were interdependent and that the overall approach should therefore be taken in any substantive review.

The report says the Committee endorsed the recommendation of the Legal Subcommittee that the Secretariat should be requested to prepare a list of international agreements and other legal documents relevant to activities in outer space. Furthermore, the Committee recommended that the Legal Subcommittee should continue its consideration of the item at its thirty-eighth session in 1999, and establish a working group for the purpose.

Some delegations felt the work of the Legal Subcommittee should be revitalized, including the development of additional agenda items for its consideration consistent with new technological developments, the report says. The Committee endorsed the recommendation of the Legal Subcommittee that further informal consultations on specific proposals of possible new agenda items for the Legal Subcommittee should continue at its 1999 session.

Further, the report says, the Committee agreed that spin-offs of space technology were yielding many substantial benefits and took note of the efforts of many Member States to develop such spin-offs and to disseminate information on such activities to interested countries. It also agreed that in promoting spin-off benefits and effective space applications, in particular with developing countries. The view was expressed that efforts to enable developing countries to participate in activities pertaining to technology development should be intensified in order to narrow the gap between technologically developed and developing countries.

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Statements

PABLO MACEDO (Mexico), Committee Chairman, said this year was the anniversary of the establishment of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. The creation of the Committee had been crucial at that time when a serious confrontation between the great Powers could have threatened humanity's existence. The international community was concerned by the possibility of outer space being used as a battleground and distant Armageddon. Against such concerns, the United Nations, through the work of the Committee, had continued to ensure that the issue of outer space be a source of cooperation.

He said such efforts of the United Nations had resulted in the establishment of a legal regime consisting of five international treaties and five sets of legal principles governing space activities, which established outer space as the province of all mankind. International cooperation continued to expand not only between governments, but also between individuals. The expansion of commercial activities also contributed to bringing benefits of space technology and applications even closer to ordinary citizens. Such technology was no longer limited to high-level policy makers and experts. It now belonged to all people, to meet their common needs.

People around the world could now communicate with each other more easily through satellite communication networks, he said. Satellites also provided important information for the monitoring and management of natural disasters, allowing people to better respond to minimize casualties and to mitigate adverse impacts on economic development. In remote and rural areas, particularly in developing countries, satellites could serve as powerful tools to enhance access to medical services and opportunities for education. The United Nations, in partnership with industries and other agents of civil society, should ensure that those benefits of space technology applications could be shared by all people around the world. The international community needed to particularly ensure that the rapid expansion of space-related activities would not marginalize people in the developing countries, who would benefit the most from space applications.

ULRIKE BUTSCHEK (Austria) spoke on behalf of the European Union, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Cyprus. She said the European Union considered space technology a highly important and promising instrument which had the potential to provide solutions for a number of global problems facing the international community. The Union welcomed the progress achieved in the implementation of the Programme on Space Applications, especially with regard to training, as well as further institutionalization of international technical exchange. Member States of the Union and of the European Space Agency had, therefore, made an effort to contribute significantly to the Programme.

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She said that while attaching importance to all issues dealt with by the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee of the Outer Space Committee, the problem of space debris was considered particularly urgent. Space debris constituted an increasing problem for space flight. Not only did it make space projects much more expensive due to the potential for severe damage, and thus the emerging necessity for shielding, it also exposed manned space flight endeavours to growing risks. The European Union welcomed the decision by the Committee to consider that item on a priority basis with the goal to finalize and adopt the technical report soon. That should provide the basis for future action by the international community to implement the recommendations and help control the growth of space debris.

She said progress could be achieved on the initiative aimed at improving the acceptance of already existing mechanisms for the settlement of disputes provided for in the Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects if States declared themselves in accordance with paragraph 3 of General Assembly resolution 2777 (XXVI) of 29 November 1971 on a reciprocal basis to the decisions of the Claims Commission established in accordance with article XIV of the Convention. Several countries had already done so. The other States were invited to examine the appropriateness of following that example -- also in view of UNISPACE III, where such a move might be welcomed as a sign of broadening the acceptance of space law.

MOHAMED SALAH TEKAYA (Tunisia) said that in its efforts to establish adequate structures for the management of outer space affairs, his country had set up a a national remote-sensing centre which played a major role in the field of environment protection, flood alerts and desertification. In the fight against advancing desertification, research and cooperation activities were planned with a number of North and West African countries.

There remained a wide gap between the developed and developing countries in the field of space technology, preventing the developing countries from benefiting fully from the uses of outer space, he said. In that context, international cooperation was of vital importance. Tunisia was grateful to the organizations, programmes and other bodies of the United Nations as well as to regional countries and organizations which had contributed to the enhancement of indigenous capacities which made it possible for developing countries to derive greater benefits from the uses of outer space.

He said that the Cooperative Information Network Linking Scientists and Professionals in Africa satellite communications network offered a useful means for the promotion of various domains, including health, agriculture, environment, education and science. That project was of great benefit to the African continent.

NOBUAKI ITOH (Japan) said his country welcomed the progress made in the preparations for UNISPACE III. Japan continued to support the objectives of the Conference. It supported the notion that the Conference should consider

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ways of resolving problems concerning the Earth and its environment through the promotion of international cooperation in Earth observation activities in order to respond to the needs of both developed and developing countries. Moreover, Japan believed the participation of the private sector in UNISPACE III was essential. The Conference should discuss not only governmental activities, but also encourage space-related industries to take an active role in providing benefits of space development to humanity.

Turning to administrative matters, he said Japan believed that the addition of the new item, "review of the status of the five international legal instruments governing outer space", had helped revitalize discussions. His country welcomed the fact that more relevant issues could be addressed there.

AKMARAL KH. ARYSTANBEKOVA (Kazakhstan) said his country had a suitable space infrastructure in its territory, notably the unique facilities of the Baikonur space-vehicle launching site. Her country actively participated in international space activity, and supported the efforts of the United Nations for further development of international cooperation in the field.

She said Kazakhstan believed that issues relating to the protection of the environment and the ecological system must be one of the important areas of international cooperation, for which extensive use of the latest achievements of modern space science and technology was required. It had already become obvious that the majority of the problems of a global nature were associated with the deterioration in the state of the environment. Problems caused by the shortage of drinking water and progressive soil degradation, as well as by the growth in the extent of the economic damage caused by natural disasters and various catastrophes brought about by technology, were becoming global in nature.

According to the latest statistical data from the United Nations about 1.7 billion people, or in other words more than a third of the world's population, lacked adequate access to sources of clean drinking water, she said. For Kazakhstan, which had encountered the global ecological disasters of the Aral Sea, the use of outer space technology for the conduct of ecological monitoring and for the protection of the environment was of great importance.

GHASSAN OBEID (Syria) said his country was concerned about space programmes that did not promote peaceful uses of outer space. A Syrian astronaut had participated in a space mission, underlining the country's interest in the promotion of development and in the protection of the environment and natural resources. Countries with a major space capacity should work together effectively to avoid an outer space arms race.

He said it was important to continue investigating ways of dealing with the thousands of space fragments orbiting the earth. There was a danger of

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accidents involving space debris, including those containing nuclear power sources. Nations should submit information regarding such power sources.

Syria welcomed the comprehensive report of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and appreciated the Committee's work in the field of remote sensing and its use by developing countries. That work would help in reducing the gap between the technologically advanced countries and developing countries. Syria also welcomed the plans for UNISPACE III and wished it every success.

He said efforts must be coordinated in order to ensure the just and equitable distribution of the benefits of the uses of outer space. Greater accessibility to remote sensing for developing countries would contribute to increased equity of all countries.

BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB (India) said that India had made significant advances in the area of satellite communications. INSAT-2E was scheduled for launch shortly. India had also completed the definition of the next generation of INSAT-3 series satellites, proposed to be launched during the period from 1998 to 2003. The INSAT-3 series would have a greater spread and provide a valuable link to rural areas. Educational television programmes, using communications satellites, were already being beamed on a large scale for the uplifting of tribal and rural areas. In addition, India was developing the Geostationary Launch Vehicle on which considerable progress had been made.

He said that another major recent achievement had been the development of the indigenous capability to launch the 1.2 ton class of satellites into a polar-sun synchronous orbit, which had been demonstrated by the launch of IRS-1D by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C1 (PSLV-C1) in 1997. The next mission, PSLV-C2, was ready for launch. The spare payload capability of the mission was being used to launch auxiliary satellites from China and Germany.

India was committed to the promotion of international cooperation in the field of outer space, he said. The Centre for Space Science and Technology Education for Asia and the Pacific Region, which had been established in India in November 1995, continued its educational activities. The first post-graduate course in the field of satellite meteorology had commenced in March 1998 and the first post-graduate course in space sciences in June 1998. The third nine-month course on remote sensing and geographical information system had also commenced recently. A large number of students from various countries in the region had benefited from courses organized by the Centre. It had been imparting skills and knowledge to university educators as well as to research and application scientists through rigorous theory, research, applications, field exercises and pilot projects in selected areas of space science and technology aimed at social and economic development.

He said that more than four decades of concerted efforts by the global scientific community had paved the way for the successful utilization of space

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systems for a variety of applications. While striving towards identification of new areas of space technology development and utilization, India felt that the emphasis needed to be on the benefits of such efforts accruing at the grass-roots level, by enabling all Member States, particularly those from the developing world, to optimally adopt, adapt and assimilate technological breakthroughs in the field of space for their welfare and national development.

ABDUL KHALID OTHMAN (Malaysia) said the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space had a significant role to play in ensuring that outer space was maintained for peaceful purposes. It was therefore imperative that further and stronger steps be taken by Member States to enable the Committee to fulfil its task. This could only be achieved through further development of international space law and strengthening international cooperation for the peaceful exploration and uses of outer space.

Malaysia had established a national committee to review the status of his country's involvement with the five major outer space treaties, he said. This exercise was part of the efforts towards the formulation of the national space laws. Emphasis should be placed on transparency in outer space activities, as well as on the exchange of data and equitable sharing of space benefits between developed and developing countries.

Malaysia also welcomed the Committee's report on matters relating to remote sensing of the Earth by satellites, particularly in application to developing countries, he said. Moreover, his country called on Member States to pay more attention to the problem of collisions of space debris and space objects, including those with nuclear power sources. Malaysia also believed that every effort had to be made to clear the defunct satellites and fragments of various man-made space objects that posed a high risk to collisions in outer space.

GAO FENG (China) said after over four decades, his country's space industry had witnessed tremendous growth. Various types of satellites developed in China were widely used in economic, scientific, technological and cultural fields, as well as in national defence, with good social and economic results. China was among the world leaders in a wide range of areas of space technology.

China attached great importance to the preparations for UNISPACE III, he said. The UNISPACE III report would be the most important for the Conference. The report should centre on the fundamental objectives of the Conference, with a clear theme and strong emphasis. It should also be pointed out that the Conference would not be a purely academic meeting, thus the relevant political, social and legal issues should not be neglected while considering space-related science and technology. Moreover, national governments should shoulder a special responsibility for promoting space-related cooperation.

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While it was true that the participation of the space industry and private enterprises were important, there should not be an excessive mingling of commercial factors in international cooperation, he said. Full account should also be taken of the demands and propositions of the developing countries. The report's plan of action, programmes and proposals should have a clear emphasis so as to facilitate implementation.

He said the space industry in China had established ties with several dozen countries in the fields of space-related technology and trade, with fruitful bilateral and multilateral cooperation in satellite manufacturing and launching, manned space flights and application of space technology. His country would endeavour to expand its space cooperation with other countries so that space technology might provide greater and better benefits to humankind.

RAIMUNDO GONZALEZ ANINAT (Chile), Vice-Chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, delivered a statement on behalf of the Committee Chairman, U.R. RAO (India). He said UNISPACE III provided enormous opportunities to strengthen the partnership between governments and space agencies on the one hand, and the private sector and non-governmental organizations on the other, to further international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space into the next millennium. Spectacular developments in space technology applications had enabled mankind to have instantaneous access to any part of the globe, shrinking both time and distance.

Space applications also provided a totally new but realistic perspective of the planet, that of a fragile global village, he said. However, in spite of the emerging new perspectives of the global village, where the destinies of all the world's peoples were interconnected through the common thread of global environment, the world continued to be divided into haves and have-nots, due to explosive population growth, rampant poverty, persisting illiteracy and inadequate industrial expansion. More than a quarter of the world's poorest people, who depended on agricultural activities, continued to be caught in a downward spiral of poverty and environment, being forced to deplete resources to survive and then being further impoverished by the degradation of the environment.

He said that the fundamental aspect of long-term sustainable development was the paradigm of technological innovations, economic determinism and physical constraints imposed by the environmental imperative of striking a judicious balance between ultimate exploitability and regenerative capacity. The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space had full potential to be a leading body of the United Nations in taking actions to enhance the sustainable development of the global society for the present and coming generations.

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Mr. GONZALEZ ANINAT, speaking in his capacity as Chile's representative, said the Declaration from the preparatory meeting for UNISPACE III, held in Concepcion, Chile, should be circulated as an official document. The Fourth Committee should include that Declaration as a paragraph of this year's resolution.

Mr. MACEDO (Mexico), Chairman of the Fourth Committee, said that the Chairman of the Working Group would take note of the suggestion as the draft resolution was prepared.

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