The space industry is rapidly expanding. About 20,000 satellites already circle the Earth, a number that could reach 100,000 by 2030. They bring growing environmental costs: space debris, collision risks, atmospheric pollution from launches and re-entry and interference with astronomical observations.
The problem requires international action. Like the oceans, Earth’s orbital environment is a shared space that remains weakly governed by international laws, registries, guidelines and voluntary co-operation. Corporations and nations are launching and operating satellites for their own gain, while the environmental costs are borne by all of us.
