The Statement is the result of a two-year process, involving actors from the space sector. It started by benchmarking already published values and principles of the most important actors within the space sector and proceeded through a continuous dialogue among the future signatories until its official launch in November 2022.

No, the Statement for a Responsible Space Sector and the Zero Debris Charter are not the same.

The Statement is a broad commitment to sustainability in the space sector, covering areas such as decarbonisation and responsible practices. In contrast, the Zero Debris Charter is a technical initiative focused specifically on eliminating space debris by 2030.

The Charter defines principles and objectives for space debris remediation and mitigation, with the purpose of making the future space missions debris neutral.

While both aim to promote sustainability and responsibility in space, the Statement sets holistic principles for the sector, and the Charter defines measurable, debris-related targets. They are complementary efforts but differ in scope and focus.

The Statement is not legally binding but is instead a public commitment to the principles of the Responsible Space Sector. While there are currently no legal nor financial consequences if a signatory does not adhere to the principles set out in the Statement, the Secretariat has the authority to withdraw a company’s signature in the case of severe breaches of the Statement principles.

The Secretariat encourages international space actors to join the Statement’s vision and community. To date, it is acknowledged that mainly European entities have signed and are participating to the Statement. However, as the global space industry continues to move collectively towards sustainable space, it is expected that more non-European entities will join the community.

Once the Statement is signed, the Signatories become part of a community. This represents a public commitment, and they are invited to contribute to various activities - such as working groups, plenary meetings, and other initiatives - developed within the framework of the Statement. They are expected to apply the relevant resulting requirements, expectations, and recommendations.

Furthermore, Signatories engage by sharing best practices with the wider community, fostering collaboration and mutual learning. They also report on the sustainability actions they have undertaken, reinforcing both their commitment to the Statement and their accountability.

The Statement has been developed in alignment with key European and international sustainability frameworks, notably the European Green Deal and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In the context of outer space activities, the Statement is also consistent with the United Nations Guidelines for the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities, thereby supporting internationally recognised efforts to ensure the responsible, safe, and sustainable use of space.

The Statement directly contributes to Sustainable Development Goal 17 - Partnerships for the Goals- by fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and joint action among a diverse range of space stakeholders. By enabling Signatories to integrate shared insights and responsible practices within their own organisations, the initiative also supports progress across the broader set of Sustainable Development Goals.

To learn more about how space can contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, visit:

https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/space4sdgs/index.html