Abstract
The recent surge of private enterprise-led space activities is driving what is dubbed the New Space revolution. SpaceX as a frontrunner is working towards colonizing Mars by 2050, with the goal of transforming humans into a multi-planetary species. These developments and the imaginaries they generate are reshaping the discourse on planetary sustainability, where celestial bodies like Mars are seen as a solution to the challenges facing our Earth. Yet, space and its sustainability remain a rather distant concern in earth system governance. In this Perspective, we argue that the New Space revolution necessitates a corresponding shift in the governance paradigm from planetary to multi-planetary for a more integrated approach that recognizes the interdependencies of Earth and space sustainability. We propose a new governance model, earth-space governance, aimed at promoting justice and integrity for all forms of life in a multi-planetary context.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 100173 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Earth System Governance |
| Volume | 16 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Apr 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors are grateful for the constructive comments from the handling editor and two anonymous reviewers. Additionally, the authors acknowledge the useful feedback generated during the presentation of the paper at the 2022 Toronto Conference on Earth System Governance and the Commons in Space 2022 Virtual Conference. This research is partially supported by the European Research Council through a Starting Grant (agreement no. 949252 ).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
Keywords
- Earth-space
- Fragmentation
- Multi-planetary
- Outer space
- Planetary sustainability
- Privatization