VIENNA, 8 June (UN Information Service) — The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) in partnership with the European Union Agency for the Space Programme (EUSPA) are launching the report “Contribution to the “Space2030 Agenda” – The European Union Space Programme “EU Space” Supporting a world with a global population of 8 Billion people”.

The report supports the implementation of the “Space2030” Agenda by raising awareness about the contribution of the European Union Space Programme components, such as Copernicus, Galileo, EGNOS and GOVSATCOM, to the achievement of global agendas and to addressing long-term sustainable development concerns of humankind. 

Linking to the ‘Day of Eight Billion’ milestone, the report identifies eight challenges related to global population growth and demographical trends and provides an overview of space applications that tackle these challenges. It highlights specific EU-related case studies and issues, such as food security, water management, climate change and environmental impacts.

The report will inform decision-makers about the benefits of Earth observation, GNSS and satellite communications using concrete examples from the field to provide an overview of the capabilities of current technologies.

Acting Director of UNOOSA Niklas Hedman said: “This new report provides decision-makers and policymakers with a very practical overview of what space can do in relation to the selected challenges. It raises awareness about different solutions and stresses the importance of space in a world with an increasing population. We are grateful for the fruitful collaboration with EUSPA on advancing the recognition of the transformative power of space for our society through the lens of the “Space2030” Agenda, the only United Nations agenda providing a roadmap for the use of space as a driver for sustainable development.”

EUSPA Executive Director Rodrigo da Costa said: “The EU Space Programme components, such as Galileo, EGNOS, Copernicus, and GOVSATCOM, have a significant role in addressing the sustainability challenges of an 8 billion world. This report shows specific examples where EU Space and its synergies actively contribute to tackling some of them. These initiatives align with UN global agendas and EU frameworks, supporting sustainable development. Following its mission on market intelligence, EUSPA together with UNOOSA provides this valuable resource, which serves as a reference for policymakers, stakeholders, and those interested in leveraging space technology for a sustainable future amidst a projected population of 9 billion by 2037.”

The report is available here: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/oosadoc/data/documents/2023/stspace/stspace85_0.html