About United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) works to promote international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of space, and in the utilisation of space science and technology for sustainable economic and social development. The Office assists any United Nations Member States to establish legal and regulatory frameworks to govern space activities and strengthens the capacity of developing countries to use space science technology and applications for development by helping to integrate space capabilities into national development programmes.
The year 2018 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the first UNISPACE conference, held in Vienna in 1968. COPUOS decided in June 2015 to use this milestone anniversary to renew and strengthen its mandate as a unique platform for interrelationship between major space faring nations and emerging space nations, supported by UNOOSA.
Economic development, social development and environmental protection form the three pillars of sustainable development. Politicians, academics and leaders in business and science are challenged to use this framework to create lasting, economically effective and healthy societies in a world with finite resources.
Earth observation from space is a cost-effective way of obtaining unbiased and essential data on the physical world. Decision makers use this information to understand trends, evaluate needs, and create sustainable development policies and programmes in the best interest of all populations.
The Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space considers space and water as an agenda item, under which States discuss national, regional and international water-related activities.