Forum Objectives and Expected Outcomes

The United Nations/United Arab Emirates High Level Forum: Space as a driver for socio-economic sustainable development has been seen as an important platform for providing updates and recommendations on the potential of space innovations to address new and emerging sustainable development challenges, as highlighted in the outcome of the first High-level Forum in 2016, the Dubai Declaration.

Space technology provides the means that can transform traditional approaches in virtually any sector of the economy. The United Nations General Assembly in its resolution on the International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space (A/RES/70/90) noted that space science and technology and their applications provide indispensable tools for viable longterm solutions for sustainable development and can contribute more effectively to efforts to promote the development of all countries and regions of the world, and stressing in that regard the need to harness the benefits of space technology towards implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Objectives of the United Nations/United Arab Emirates High Level Forum include the presentation of lessons learned and new ideas in the four thematic areas of space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy, and all their interactions and interlinkages. During the first two days the forum will include the presentation of lessons learned and new ideas on the established four pillars of space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy, including all their interactions and inter-linkages as outlined in the Dubai Declaration. The following two days will bring together decision makers from governments, space agencies, and other stakeholders to discuss the plan-of-action in preparation for UNISPACE+50 and beyond.

The primary purpose of the discussion sessions to be held on 6 and 7 November 2017 is to gather experts to present their views and work on space economy, space society, space accessibility and space diplomacy.

This part of the forum will address the following:

• The wealth of options and arguments on why space is important for society, the need to guarantee access to space activities, and the need for a cooperative regulatory instrument mechanism for cooperation to ensure the benefits of space for societies;
• The attainment of the goals set by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the support of space and how space can be a driver for social and economic sustainable development;
• The various factors of access to space, space technology data and facilities, and the importance of joining a global effort in the development of the entire space arena for the benefit of humanity;
• The attention of governments to the need for regulatory frameworks and mechanisms at national, regional and global levels, as well as the role of international mechanisms for cooperation in the peaceful exploration and use of outer space.

The main purpose of the panel sessions to be held on 8 and 9 November 2017 will be to focus on the High Level Forum contribution towards the UNISPACE+50 goals.

This part of the forum will address the following:

• International cooperation and challenges towards UNISPACE+50 and Space2030 in order for the international community to lay the basis for the use of space for the benefit of all humankind and to be able to collectively address cross-border concerns;
• Space2030 as an opportunity for innovation, integration and investment in order to generate the widest participation possible to promote space technology to address issues that are transnational in their nature and to deal with global concerns; and to strengthen unified efforts at all levels and among all relevant stakeholders of the space sector in addressing the overarching long-term development concerns of society with concrete deliverables pertaining to space for development.

Expected outcomes of the HLF2017 are to build stronger partnerships and international cooperation and coordination in the peaceful uses of outer space at all levels. This includes: increased awareness about the on-going space activities and trends in the use of space technology and services that aid sustainable development; acknowledged relevance of the space sector for the economy, society and diplomacy of a nation; recognised benefits from the space as a core sector for socio-economic development; identified strategies to link space activities as a driver for socio-economic development; recommendations on utilizing innovative space activities to address emerging sustainable development challenges; establishment of partnerships to aid in addressing space for sustainable development; and recommendations on how voluntary actions from governments, international organizations, research and development institutions, academia and other relevant stakeholders could support the partnerships in increased used of space as a driver for socio-economic development.