Sustainable space governance as a key to protect future generations’ rights

Abstract The protection of the interests and rights of future generations, which are being progressively influenced by the actions of the present, has become a pressing global concern. Since 2021, the United Nations has intensified its efforts to cope with this issue, particularly through Our Common Agenda. Space has been identified as a priority within the Pact for the Future, adopted in September 2024, as part of this broader initiative. This study explores sustainable space governance and its potential to advance the rights of future generations and promote intergenerational justice. Key areas such as regulating space traffic, mitigating space debris, and ensuring equitable access to space resources are identified as critical for the sustainable use and governance of space for both present and future generations. The study argues that protecting future generations’ rights has become a global gridlock. In the context of global politics, sustainable space governance provides a pathway to addressing complex, interconnected challenges while safeguarding these rights. Intra- and intergenerational justice is already a component of existing space governance frameworks. Nevertheless, the advancement of these frameworks necessitates the prioritization of Wendt's concept of the internationalization of the state and the contributions of epistemic communities. This study synthesizes the four essential policy goals for future generations adopted in 2023 with gridlock pathways and suggests that the adaptation of these principles to space policies is crucial to address emerging challenges and secure a just future.