Vote Against GA resolution Active Reduction of Space Debris

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General Assembly Vote Recommendation

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Part of the Information for WA Voters program

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Resolution Analysis
Overview
This proposal addresses the problem of of dangerous debris accumulating in orbit. Fearing the existing GAR#349 does not offer sufficient incentives for active reduction of space debris, it requests WA member states cooperate with WASP to develop new technologies to eliminate orbital debris, and specifies the manner in which such debris might be de-orbited. Furthermore, it requires WA member states and WASP to collaborate on additional specifications regarding orbital debris elimination programs, and to reduce the amount of debris released into junk orbits in future space missions.

Recommendation
The problem which this issue seeks to address is very real and quite important, which is why a resolution nearly seven years old addresses it. Though this proposal manages to skirt outright illegality, it's quite flawed. First of all, the definition of "debris" laid out in Article 1(a) is a literal joke, referencing an admittedly funny definition from an earlier proposal that is absolutely unacceptable in today's General Assembly. Next, the proposal introduces a variety of arbitrary and overly specific requirements throughout article 3, which needlessly inhibit de-orbiting programs utilizing methods other than a velocity change using a powered device, application of matter to debris, or which are set to take longer than five years. Lastly, the proposal does little to address the shortcomings it seeks to correct, providing no meaningful incentives for WA member states to actively reduce space debris, and failing to address environmental impacts of high atmosphere burn up of debris, which are often filled with a variety of hazmats.

For the above reasons, the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs recommends a vote Against the General Assembly Resolution at vote, "Active Reduction of Space Debris".

This IFV Recommendation was written in collaboration with our World Assembly Legislative League partners.

Join our discussion!

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Sponsored by the Ministry of World Assembly Affairs of The North Pacific.

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