Safeguarding Space: Environmental Issues, Risks and Responsibilities - Issue Note

This issues note reviews recent literature on the environmental implications of expanding space activities and outlines approaches for communicating the topic consistently across the United Nations Environment Programme. It describes the rapid growth of satellite launches and spacecraft deployments and explains how activities such as manufacturing, launch, operation and re-entry affect all layers of Earth’s atmosphere. The document summarises evidence on emissions from launches, atmospheric ablation during re-entry, metal particle formation, orbital debris accumulation and associated risks to atmospheric chemistry, ozone, climate processes and astronomical observations. It also discusses gaps in monitoring and data, governance limitations and emerging sustainability initiatives, while outlining research priorities and coordinated international actions needed to better understand and manage environmental impacts.