RIYADH: In an address to the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Saudi representative sounded the alarm on the escalating threat of space debris to human rights and sustainable development, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Speaking on behalf of 123 countries, Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, emphasized the need for outer space sustainability to safeguard the transformative benefits of space technology for humanity.

The use of space has “revolutionized global communications, weather forecasting, and disaster management,” he said, underlining the pivotal role these advances play in protecting fundamental human rights.

However, the ambassador cautioned that the growing problem of space debris poses a significant risk to the infrastructure supporting these operations.

This threat, he said, could severely impede the global community’s ability to protect and promote essential human rights.

Bin Khothaila drew direct links between the management of space debris and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

He emphasized that effective space debris mitigation is crucial for maintaining access to technologies that underpin weather monitoring, disaster response and urban planning.

The Saudi envoy’s concerns are echoed by key UN bodies.

The UN Office for Outer Space Affairs and the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space have each underscored the importance of space debris management for the safety of space operations, international security, environmental protection and satellite services that contribute to human rights and development.