PRIORITIZING HEALTH CONCERNS AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION EQUALLY IN ADDRESSING SPACE DEBRIS FROM OUTER SPACE THROUGH THE PRINCIPLE OF INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The controversy surrounding space debris which have re-entered the earth atmosphere has gained prominence for causing environmental contamination among various subsidiary guidelines which constitute the Guidelines for the Long-term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities. Regretfully, most of the subsidiary guidelines have barely referred to health concerns explicitly. While certain forms of space debris can either cause air, water or ground pollution such as fuel from fuel tanks of rockets and satellites or nuclear-powered reactors, how human health is affected has been downplayed. If sustainable development must be achieved, the inclusion of health concerns from space debris must be emphasized as more non-space-faring states are victims of fallen debris that could harm their population. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to assert that environmental contamination and health concerns arising from the space debris left on earth from the outcome of outer space activities must be given equal emphasis in the furtherance on international health law. This is a qualitative study that utilizes a textual analysis in interpreting provisions and relevant paragraphs of selected outer space agreements and soft law documents to identify wordings such as environmental contamination and pollution, health and public health to judge if these documents have adequately addressed the two components of sustainable development. Secondary resources were also consulted. The results of the study show that outer space law has made some strides by embracing sustainable development with an emphasis on environmental contamination and protection from space debris through non-binding soft law documents to complement outer space treaties but neglecting health concerns. The implication is the need to develop international health law by the World Health Organization (WHO) concerning outer space to address toxic fuels besides the hazards posed by nuclear reactors powering some satellites since scant attention has been given to these matters.