The World Space Forum Series
Introduction
As of today, close to 80 UN Member States have established space agencies and in 2020, the space community launched a record number of satellites, surpassing the 1,000 threshold for the first time ever - breaking the previous high set in 2019. Research shows that around 40% of the 169 targets behind the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) benefit from the use of geo-location and earth observation satellites. With the inclusion of telecommunication satellites, this statistic rises substantially. Today, innovative space-based science and technology are accelerating achievement of SDGs in many parts of the world.
The United Nations aims to leverage innovative solutions and technological developments to realise common sustainable development goals, and attention is increasingly placed on the unique potential of space technologies in this endeavour. It is therefore important to build on the outcomes of UNISPACE+50 and take advantage of the momentum it generated to ensure that the current exchanges fully capture the political, legal and capacity building elements of international cooperation in space exploration.
Current Forum
The Austria/United Nations World Space Forum 'Space 4 Climate Action' will take place between 6 and 9 December 2021 in Vienna, Austria. This event will be hosted by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation, and Technology (BMK) and the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs (BMEIA) on behalf of the Government of Austria.
Past Forums
World Space Forum 2020
The United Nations/United Arab Emirates Forum focused on 'Space for our Future' on maximizing the efforts in ensuring that the benefits of space are brought to everyone, everywhere.
The 2020 edition sought to facilitate the exchange of best practices and more inter-agency collaboration in support of the SDGs so that space assets, exploration and utilization finally become more universally used as one of the key tools for a better future.
World Space Forum 2019
The United Nations/Austria World Space Forum 2019 focused on 'Access to Space4All' to leverage space technologies to their full potential to achieve sustainable economic and social development globally.
The 2019 edition provided an opportunity for representatives of the collective space community to address international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space activities across the four pillars of UNISPACE+50 (space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy) and concluded with specific observations and recommendations which can be found in the report. These outcomes, inter alia, represent a valuable opportunity to elevate space as an important pillar of the global agenda.
Report of the Workshop
High Level Forums
Preceding the World Space Forum, three High Level Forums (HLFs) were organized to debate and collect recommendations that shaped and positioned space activities as drivers for innovation, socio-economic development and diplomacy for a sustainable future. Going forward the World Space Forum has replaced the High-Level Forum. The HLFs were organized annually from 2016 to 2018, with a preparatory meeting organized in 2015.
Working Language
The working language of the WSF is English.
Contact Information
For information regarding the submission of nominations for attendance and funding as well as the programme and sponsorship of the Forum please contact:
UNOOSA - World Space Forum Organizing Team
E-Mail: worldspaceforum[at]un.org