Governance of Global Moon Exploration and Settlement Episode 3 – Sharing the Benefits of Lunar Activities

Both the United States and China have revealed their plans to return people to the Moon in the near future. Many other countries, as well as private companies, will partner with the U.S. and China in these endeavors. As these missions move forward, the risk for interference or conflict arising from competition for sunlight, ice, and land will grow. In order to reduce this risk, a set of basic ground rules must be implemented. NASA has begun the process of establishing these rules among its partners in the Artemis Project through a series of bilateral agreements. But the Artemis Accords are aimed to Artemis partners only. The Moon Village Association’s Best Practices for Sustainable Lunar Activity fill this gap by providing a process for developing multilateral ground rules for all countries that are heading to the Moon. The Principles were issued last March by MVA and can be seen at: https://moonvillageassociation.org/moon-village-principles-mvp-issue-2-draft-public-consultation-opens/.

Among the many legal issues that need clarification is the extent to which space faring countries are obligated to share the benefits of their Moon missions. The sharing of benefits is a fundamental principle of law that is enshrined in the very first article of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty:

“The exploration and use of outer space, including the Moon and other celestial bodies, shall be carried out for the benefit and in the interests of all countries, irrespective of their degree of economic or scientific development, and shall be the province of all mankind. “

But what exactly does this article mean? What types of benefits are to be shared? And how?

The second principle in the current draft of the Best Practices for Sustainable Lunar Activity attempts to elaborate on the duty to share benefits by encouraging all space actors to:

“Conduct lunar activities in a manner that takes into account the interests of other actors and benefits all countries and humankind. Both governmental and nongovernmental actors involved in lunar activities should provide for benefit-sharing through all feasible means, including for example the promotion of the participation in lunar activities by all countries, and, in particular, developing countries. “

This webinar will take up this critical issue with the intent of acquiring a better understanding of the meaning and practical impact of the requirement to share benefits according to Best Practices Principles. The panelists will discuss why developing countries should support the adoption of the Best Practices to implement concrete measure on benefit sharing for the upcoming lunar missions.

Register to participate in the webinar: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/governance-of-global-moon-exploration-and-settlement-episode-3-tickets-119060935463

or watch live on the MVA Facebook Page.

The admission in the webinar will be on a first come first served basis.

Speakers:

• Mr. Ian Christensen, Director of Private Sector Programs, Secure World Foundation
• Ms. Fadahunsi-banjo Motolani, Chief Legal Officer at National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), the Nigerian Outer Space Agency
• Ms. Loreto Moraga, Director Moon Project Committee Coordinator, Chilean Space Association (ACHIDE)
• Dr. Giuseppe Reibaldi, President, Moon Village Association
• Prof. Mark J. Sundahl, Director, Global Space Law Center, Cleveland State University

Moderator:

Mr. Antonino Salmeri, Space Generation Advisory Council

Agenda:

1. 4:30 – 4:35 Introduction (Giuseppe Reibaldi)
2. 4:35 – 4:45 The Background of Benefit Sharing and the MVA Best Practices for Sustainable Lunar Activity (Mark J. Sundahl)
3. 4:45 – 5:00 An Industry Perspective on Benefit Sharing (Ian Christensen)
4. 5:00 – 5:15 Sharing Benefits with Developing Countries (Fadahunsi-banjo Motolani)
5. 5:15 – 5:30 Sharing Benefits with Developing Countries (Loreto Moraga)
6. 5:30 – 5:55 Participant Comments, Q&A (Moderator: Antonino Salmeri)
7. 5:55 – 6:00 Conclusions (Giuseppe Reibaldi)

    

Watch Governance of Global Moon Exploration and Settlement Episode 1-Best Practices

Watch Governance of Global Moon Exploration and Settlement Episode 2-Operating with Due Regard, Avoiding Harmful Interference, and Establishing Safety Zones