Space for Our Planet at the United Nations in New York
27/10/2022
A new multimedia exhibition, Space for our Planet, will be opened Wednesday 26 October 2022 at the Visitors Centre of United Nations in New York. The exhibition aims to introduce people to the solutions that Space activities can provide for ecological transition and a sustainable future.
35 people from around the world – from fishers to climate experts, astronauts to students, oceanographers to doctors – have been interviewed to examine how space technologies and applications play their part in the attainment of the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs were devised to motivate countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They acknowledge our need to create strategies for economic growth that put an end to poverty while responding to a whole range of social needs, especially education, health, social protection and employment, while fighting climate change and protecting the environment.
Space for our Planet explains how Earth observation by satellites provides scientists with essential data about glacial melting, the rise in sea levels, and meteorological events to help them analyse the impact of climate change and prepare to counter it. Communication and geolocalisation satellites connect us to the world’s remotest regions, improving access to health and education and reducing travel requirements.
The exhibition also looks at how astronomy can inspire younger generations and help to reduce inequality, how life on board the International Space Station is enabling us to experiment more sustainable approaches to production and consumption, and how space exploration is offering us different perspectives on our own planet.
Supported by the Group of Friends of UNOOSA, co-chaired by the Permanent Mission of Austria and the Permanent Mission of Zambia this opening event will highlight the benefits of “Space4ourPlanet” and the importance of space for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Introduced by the curatorsn Fiorella Coliolo and Benoit delplanque, the event sees the participation of Niklas Hedman, Acting Director, UNOOSA, Eduardo Ramos, Chargé D’Affaires a.i. Deputy Permanent Representative of Portugal to UN, Heriberto Saldivar, Head of Foresight, Strategy and Coordination Deartment, ESA, Sveva Iacovoni, President Spokesperson, ASI ; Maria Rosaria D’Antonio, Head of Administration, IAU ; Zainab Azim, GIVE Founder and Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut.
Within the framework of the 17 SDGs all countries and stakeholders act in collaborative partnership to implement all goals and targets. The adopted agenda is designed to heal and secure our planet and space technology can contribute to and initiate action towards the implementation of the bold and transformative steps which are urgently requested to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path.
The exhibition is produced by TIMKAT, curated by Fiorella Coliolo, Astronomer, and Benoit Delplanque (TIMKAT), under the patronage of the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). Founding partners of the exhibition are the European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Commission (Directorate General for Industry, Defence and Space – DG DEFIS). Partners include the Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES), the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the German Space Agency (DLR), Portugal Space, the network of European space regions (NEREUS), the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the Canadian association GIVE (Global Initiative & Vision for Education).
