Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.5 Other global space conventions and treaties
Treaty
Date
Ratifi cations
Signatures
Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty a
October 1963
126
10
Convention on the Prohibition
of Military or Any Other Hostile
Use of Environmental
Modifi cation Techniques
December 1976
76
48
The International
Telecommunications
Convention
The current Constitution
and Convention was
adopted in 1992 in
Geneva. Subsequent
conferences have only
adopted amendments
193 (members)
a The Treaty banning nuclear weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space and under water (1963)
can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/disarmament/WMD/Nuclear/pdf/Partial_Ban_Treaty.pdf
problems of their collisions with space debris. The information received is then dis-
seminated by the United Nations. 21 In June 2007, UNCOPUOS also adopted Space
Debris Mitigation Guidelines - which member states pledged to implement 'to the
greatest extent feasible' (United Nations Offi ce for Outer Space Affairs 2010 ). The
2007 session of UNCOPUOS also agreed on a draft resolution on the practice of
states and international organisations in registering space objects to be submitted to the
General Assembly and approved a work plan for the UN Platform for Space-based
Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER).
Every year the UN General Assembly discusses resolutions relating to activities
in outer space. 22 Table 4.6 shows some additional principles on the use of space
which have been adopted. Every year they adopt a resolution calling for 'International
Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space' usually without a vote. There are
also regular discussions on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space
(PAROS) 23 and on Transparency and Confi dence-Building Measures (TCBMs) in
Outer Space. Both resolutions are adopted by an overwhelming majority of UN
member states with every country votes in favour of the resolution - except for the
United States who usually vote against and Israel, who abstain. The United States
argues that the existing multilateral arms control regime is suffi cient and that there
is no need to address a nonexistent threat, but other countries view this suspiciously
and are frustrated that progress cannot be made on this subject until the most power-
ful country in space agrees.
21 The reports from 2004 to 2010 are available from http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/natact/sdnps/
index.html
22 An index of resolutions can be found here - http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/oosa/SpaceLaw/
gares/gavotes.html
23 For much more information and coverage of UN discussions on PAROS, see the 'Reaching
Critical Will' website - http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/resources/fact-sheets/critical-issues/
5448-outer-space
 
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