UNITED NATIONS SPACE LAW AND POLICY CONFERENCE 2025 Operationalising Space Sustainability: Legal and Regulatory Approaches Across the Lifecycle of Space Debris
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Published on the 26th of November 2025
Written by Varvara Kut'yina
We are entering an era where international space treaties, many drafted in the 60s, are becoming operational tools for the realities of 2025.
As representatives of Cosmos for Humanity, Varvara Kut’yina’s participation in the 2025 UNOOSA Space Law Conference reaffirmed something fundamental: the future of space is not simply about technology. It is about responsibility, inclusivity, and the collective stewardship of the orbital environment upon which humanity increasingly depends.
Across all panels, we observed a community coping with difficult questions, but deeply committed to ensuring that space remains a safe and open domain for all. Below are the key insights we carry back with us.
Theme 1 – Translating Space Sustainability into National Regulatory Frameworks
Panel 1: Implementing the UN COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and Long-Term Sustainability Guidelines Into National Legal and Regulatory Frameworks: From Implementation to Operation
The first panel explored the urgent need to transform the UN COPUOS Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines and the Long-Term Sustainability (LTS) Guidelines into concrete national frameworks. While nearly all States endorse these guidelines, implementation remains inconsistent.
From Cosmo’s perspective, one of the most striking themes was the widening gap between international guidelines and national practice. The UN COPUOS guidelines are foundational, but without real implementation, the orbital environment continues to degrade.
We were especially concerned by the regulatory fragmentation described across national frameworks. As Cosmos for Humanity often stresses, operational inconsistency is itself a source of risk. It creates uncertainty, invites loopholes, and burdens emerging actors who lack the resources to navigate a patchwork of rules. Panellists agreed that although COPUOS guidelines remain a crucial reference, they must evolve into binding, performance-based regulations to be fully effective.
We strongly support the call for:
Binding performance-based regulations,
Strict end-of-life rules,
Manoeuvrability and trackability standards,
Transparent, rapid conjunction notifications,
Clearer pathways for Active Debris Removal and On-Orbit Servicing.
These are essential foundations of a sustainable, equitable orbital ecosystem.
At the same time, we welcomed the reminder that regulation must remain inclusive. Sustainability cannot become a cost barrier that pushes developing States or research actors out of orbit. The solutions proposed for shared Space Situational Awareness (SSA), multinational missions, and capacity-building align directly with our vision of space as a common that must be accessible to all humankind.
Panel 2: Launch of UNOOSA’s Registration Toolkit
Although less publicised than other panels, this session spoke directly to the structural foundations of governance. Registration is more than an administrative formality; it is the legal anchor that ties space objects to responsibility, accountability, and transparency.
A study across ~50 countries revealed:
Significant divergences in definitions (e.g., “space object,” “launching State”),
Persistent misunderstandings (e.g., some States believe they cannot register military objects),
Poor coordination between government agencies and operators,
Limited awareness of obligations to notify the UN.
From a Cosmos for Humanity standpoint, the disparities uncovered in global registration practices are worrying. Without a harmonised understanding of who registers what, and under which criteria, we cannot ensure safe operations, traceability, or fair liability.
The new Registration Toolkit aims to:
provide step-by-step guidance and case studies,
support the creation and maintenance of national registers,
offer a UN-aligned submission template,
encourage digitalisation of the global register.
UNOOSA announced a broader plan for a future “Space Law Toolkit” covering all seven key elements of national space legislation. We welcome the new toolkit as a major step toward levelling the playing field and empowering States that lack legal or technical resources. A fair global space sector must begin with equal access to knowledge and governance tools.
Panel 3: Integrating Sustainability Into Practice
The third panel moved from regulation to operational culture, posing the essential question: How do we embed sustainability in the daily routines of space actors? This panel resonated strongly with Cosmo’s mission. Beyond laws and guidelines, humanity needs a cultural shift: sustainability must become habitual, a daily operational reflex embedded in engineering choices, mission design, and commercial practices.
Several interventions highlighted barriers we consider urgent:
Insufficient access to high-quality data,
Lack of interoperable communication between operators,
No shared “rules of the road” in orbit,
Persistent uncertainty around the EU’s emerging Space Act.
At Cosmos for Humanity, we believe that coordination is the missing infrastructure of modern spaceflight. No technological leap, not even AI-based collision avoidance, can succeed without shared values, shared standards, and shared responsibility.
We were encouraged by the increasing involvement of the insurance sector, which now recognises sustainability as a key determinant of risk. This creates a new incentive structure: unsafe behaviour will cost more, while responsible operators will be rewarded. This evolution brings us closer to a future where sustainability is not optional; it is economically rational.
We were also inspired by the voices from Africa, reminding the international community that sustainability must never reinforce global inequalities, representing nearly 20% of the global population but less than 1% of satellites. Responsible spaceflight should not become a gate-keeping mechanism. This mirrors our own position: a sustainable space environment is inseparable from a just and inclusive one.
This Panel highlighted that sustainability is both a technical and cultural transformation. Effective reform requires regulatory convergence, transparent day-to-day practices, and cross-sectoral cooperation.
Theme 2 – The Rescue and Return Agreement in Action: Legal and Operational Reflections
Perhaps the most human-centred discussion of the conference addressed the Rescue and Return Agreement (ARRA), a treaty crafted in the 1960s that now addresses very real debris incidents affecting communities worldwide.
What stood out to us is that re-entry events are no longer rare. They impact farmers, families, and rural communities in Kenya, Brazil, India, South Africa, Ghana, and beyond.
Brazil: A real debris incident required rapid interagency coordination; Brazil has since codified ARRA provisions into its National Space Law.
Germany/ESA: Germany shared the EXPRESS capsule (1995) and the ESA Vega upper-stage tank (2016) cases, highlighting the importance of communications channels and technical-diplomatic cooperation.
Kenya: Kenya’s 2023 debris landing exposed gaps in SSA capability, public communication, and national procedures. This event accelerated work on Kenya’s 2025 national space policy, including provisions on responsible behaviour, re-entry protocols, and community awareness.
South Africa: South Africa reported several historical incidents, including large components from a Delta-II rocket from a GPS launch. South Africa used its domestic Space Affairs Act to implement ARRA obligations. Nonetheless, South African representatives acknowledged that the existing law is outdated and is now under review to incorporate sustainability and clarify compensation mechanisms.
This reinforces our belief that space governance is not abstract: its consequences are felt on the ground, by people who may have no connection to space activities.
The panel demonstrated that:
ARRA is now used monthly,
States often lack preparedness,
Public communication is essential to prevent panic and misinformation,
SSA access remains uneven,
National procedures for compensation and crisis management must be strengthened.
We were particularly moved by the testimonies from Kenya and South Africa, highlighting not only technical challenges but human ones: public fear, unclear responsibilities, and lack of institutional support.
As Cosmos for Humanity, we see ARRA as a reminder that space safety is planetary safety. Space debris is not just an orbital issue. It is a public safety concern, a diplomatic issue, and a matter of social justice.
This panel showed how ARRA has become a practical, operational treaty, serving as a global safety net for debris landings. As re-entries grow more frequent, States must modernize legal frameworks, strengthen SSA capability, and ensure preparedness.
WHAT COSMOS FOR HUMANITY TAKES AWAY
Across both days, the conference revealed a space governance landscape at a crossroads:
Sustainability is no longer a niche concern; it is the heart of safe operations.
International guidelines must evolve into enforceable, harmonised rules.
Inclusivity must remain at the centre of global governance.
Old treaties like ARRA are proving unexpectedly vital.
Cross-sector cooperation is essential.
Space is now deeply interconnected with life on Earth.
The overarching takeaway is clear: the future of global space governance will require agility, transparency, and shared responsibility. UNOOSA’s work in bringing together diverse actors is essential for navigating this increasingly complex environment.
For Cosmos for Humanity, these discussions reinforced our core belief: Space is a shared human endeavour, and its governance must reflect the values of responsibility, solidarity, and intergenerational justice.
We return from UNOOSA more determined than ever to contribute to a space ecosystem where sustainability is the norm, cooperation the default, and humanity, ALL of humanity, the beneficiary.
