February 9th, 2023 |
N E W Y O R K – February 9, 2023 – The Beyond Earth Institute is proud to announce that it has added its endorsement, along with other prominent signatories, to the Washington Compact (The Compact), a historic document initiated by The Hague Institute for Global Justice. The Compact is an agreement of norms of behavior for commercial space operations. Co-signers represent diverse non-government players from various parts of the world.
The Compact was initiated at a meeting hosted by the Hague Institute in Washington, DC, on Independence Day, July 4, 2022. Drafted as a top-level legal and policy framework for commercial space operations, the Compact hopes to be a “common vision” for the future of space law and policy.
The Compact states, “The fundamental tenets of The Hague Institute for Global Justice - the rule of law, conflict resolution and governance - are crucial for the interactions in space as they are on Earth.” It also references the desire to build on pertinent international law, particularly those originating from the United Nations and its Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), as well as evolving new policies and rules of behavior that will govern andencourage non-government space activities.
The Compact also seeks foster the creation of a space culture, to educate and inspire, through cooperation with public and private educational institutions and professional societies.
Steve Wolfe, President of the Beyond Earth Institute, said, “Beyond Earth is very supportive of the Washington Compact because it recognizes, as we do, that we are entering a new era of space exploration and development, and the current laws and policies require significant clarification to ensure that all actors, government and private, behave appropriately, in order for everyone to prosper in space. Beyond Earth looks forward to working with the Hague Institute to refine the provisions of the Compact further over time.”
“The Washington Compact, with its focus on non-government players in space, fills an important void left by the Artemis Accords, which, of course, is limited to sovereign signatories. We are especially excited that the document’s drafters view it as a “living document “that will be subject over time to amendment as humanity gains more experience living and working in space, including establishing space-based business enterprises and communities,” said Courtney Stadd, Vice President, Beyond Earth Institute.
You can find a copy of the Compact at The United Nations Office of Outer Space Affairs website: https://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/oosadoc/data/documents/2023/aac.105c.12023crp/aac.105c.12023crp.27_0.html
A copy of the Compact with BE’s signature can be found here: https://beyondearth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-Washington-Compact-Beyond-Earth-Institute-signed-sw.pdf
