Space Law and Nature Conservation for Planetary Protection
- Paper number
IAC-07-E6.3.11
- Author
Prof. Bhatt Saligram, India
- Year
2007
- Abstract
Space exploration began during an international scientific collaboration effort by states in 1957 under the International Geophysical Year Programme. It was an excercise to know more about nature, its geophysical and ecological systems. This year 2007, the IAF, UNESCO, IISL and other concerned world scientific and legal institutions are celebrating the fifty years of space exploration. During past fifty years, mankind has discovered more about nature and the global ecology. The UN has found necessary and passed Stockholm Declaration in 1972 for the protection of environment, the World Charter for Nature in 1982, the Rio Declaration for Economic Development in 1992 and the Johannesburg Declaration for Sustainable Development in 2002. Today after fifty years humankind has realised that the planetary protection is the major concern for all. Global warming, for example, and its consequences in terms of natural disasters, is one major issue for survival of mankind and for the conservation of nature. Space exploitation since 1957, deregulation of aviation since the US Act 1978, and sustainable development of environment during recent years, are three major sources of disturbances for nature. Space law, however, apart from its uses for the benefits of mankind has a major role for nature conservation. It provides a window to observe nature very extensively and minutely through remote sensing, direct television broadcasts and global communication by satellites. My paper here makes an attempt to devote space law for nature conservation. A combination of law and science is essential to conserve nature. An ecological approach to international space law reveals us the secrets of nature and knowledge about its eco-systems. It teaches us therefore how nature conservations can be achieved better. We may not know fully about nature and its laws. Yet, conservation of nature seems to have more logic than its sustainable development. Professor Albert Einstein said in his discourse about nature that he understood nature partly, not fully. Nature is subtle, mysterious, he said. In conversation with Tagore, Einstein agreed that the Reality of nature can be grasped also by mystics because of their pure thinking. Professor Ilya Peregogine who has a Noble Prize on the nature’s laws of thermodynamics has similar observations on nature. He says that nature has its own ordering capacity. An integrated study of economics, law and science of nature conservation is therefore essential for establishing harmony with nature, and for its conservation. Let us turn a new chapter in our global research and the study of space law, and overcome issues of planetary protection through conservation of nature. We have had enough experience of fifty years of space exploitation, of its law and science. My paper will discuss this urgent issue of conservation of nature by space law. I have attempted to analyse above views in my two books written during last three years on space law and environmental law.
- Abstract document