RAeS Conference – Leading Global Change through the Earth & Space Sustainability Initiative (ESSI)

There is an urgent need to recognise our shared responsibility for the Earth and space environment and take action to protect it. This Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) conference will detail the activities being driven by the Earth & Space Sustainability Initiative (ESSI) in this regard, and how the UK can help to lead global change in this arena.

ESS is funded by the UK Space Agency, and enjoys ministerial and departmental backing, and wide-ranging industry support across several sectors. In consultation with many stakeholders, ESSI is developing sets of Space Sustainability Principles that will facilitate the establishment of the Space Sustainability Standards. These internationally recognised standards will help to drive more responsible behaviour and seek to ensure the sustainable use of outer space across the entire lifecycle of a satellite. This will attract greater and wider investment in the space industry, providing transparency and confidence to investors, as well as supporting the development of insurance and licensing.

Conference objectives

This event, from 12-13 March 2024, will provide the first consolidated update on the ESSI and discuss the need for a truly international effort to implement the initiative’s aims. As part of catalysing action and promoting constructive debate, the conference aims to:

• Reinforce the need to move beyond the recognition of space sustainability’s importance
• Present practical solutions that can drive more responsible behaviour
• Demonstrate ESSI’s progress to motivate further engagement and action
• Discuss the ongoing implementation, including challenges, and emphasise the role of international collaboration in delivering the ESSI’s vision

Further details and registration