POSITION PAPER

Country - Finland
Agenda - DEVELOPING GLOBAL FRAMEWORKS AND PROTOCOLS TO REGULATE THE
INCREASING CONGESTION OF SATELLITES AND SPACECRAFTS IN EARTH’S
ORBIT, ENSURING SAFE AND EFFICIENT SPACE OPERATIONS.

Finland is actively engaged in the global conversation surrounding the increasingly congested
space environment. Recognizing the surge in satellite launches and spacecraft operations,
Finland advocates for the development of robust international frameworks and protocols to
manage this congestion effectively. The country emphasizes the critical importance of ensuring
the safety and efficiency of space operations to prevent collisions and mitigate the risk of space
debris accumulation.

Participating in international forums and discussions, Finland collaborates with other nations to
address the challenges posed by the escalating number of objects in Earth's orbit. They seek to
establish clear guidelines and rules that promote responsible behavior and sustainable practices
in space activities.

Moreover, Finland underscores the significance of preserving the space environment for future
generations. They understand that unchecked congestion and debris in space could jeopardize
the viability of future space missions and pose risks to both space infrastructure and Earth's
environment.

By championing cooperation and advocating for prudent space governance, Finland aims to
contribute to the development of a safe and sustainable space environment. Their efforts align
with broader global initiatives aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of space activities
and maintaining the integrity of Earth's orbit for generations to come.

Finland's space strategy for 2013–2020 focuses on using space technology for applications on
Earth, which it considers increasingly important to society. The strategy's goal is to make
Finnish space activities and their applications world-class in certain areas by 2020. In November
2018, Finland updated its national space strategy to include a 2025 target for companies and
research organizations to use space sustainably. Finland also aims to create an attractive and
agile space business environment by introducing small satellites and globally scalable business
models.

Finland's space policy also reflects its general political priority of ensuring the sustainable
development of the Arctic. Finland is also actively considering implementing guidelines for the
long-term sustainability of outer space into /its national policy.
Finland's space strategy for 2013–2020 included a 400 million euro investment in the
European Commission's and ESA's space programs. Finland's annual contribution to the ESA
budget is about 28 million euros, which is about 0.6% of the ESA's annual budget of 6.49
billion euros. Finland's voluntary contributions to ESA's programs support themes like climate
change mitigation, the Arctic's development, and the sustainable use of space