UN Chronicle | Space and Water

Space and Water
By Kristin Gilmore for the Chronicle

Web Article

The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), during its forty-sixth session in Vienna from 11 to 20 June, discussed, among others, the issue of space debris and the international satellite system for search and rescue. It also adopted a new agenda item for its next session: "Space and water". Acknowledging that "over 1 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water" and that "if current trends persist, two thirds of the world's population will be living with serious water shortages by the year 2025", the Committee decided to explore ways in which space agencies and other organizations can work together to find ways to "facilitate international cooperation in the development and use of water resources, using space-based data".

The announcement came midway through the International Year for Freshwater (2003) and shortly after World Environment Day, which was celebrated on 5 June with the theme "Water: Two Billion People are Dying for it". In commemorating the Day, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said "fresh thinking" and innovative ideas were required to tackle new challenges in freshwater. The adoption of the "Space and water" agenda item represents the commitment of COPUOS to the Secretary-General's call for such efforts.

Established by the General Assembly in 1959, the Committee's mandate is to organize and facilitate international cooperation on the peaceful uses of outer space. Under UN auspices, COPUOS coordinates as well as undertakes programmes in the field and considers legal problems that arise in programmes to explore outer space. It has grown to be one of the largest Committees in the United Nations with 65 Member States. In addition, several intergovernmental and non-governmental international organizations have observer status with COPUOS and its two subcommittees: the Scientific and Technical Subcommittee and the Legal Subcommittee.

The Committee and its Subcommittees, which meet annually, provide recommendations on the basis of consensus to the General Assembly on questions and issues put before them by the Assembly and Member States. Annual reports contain detailed information on the work of the Committee; the report of the most recent session will be posted on its website.

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