On Monday, July 20, 2026, marking International Moon Day, the United Nations urged governments worldwide to ensure that humanity's renewed exploration of the Moon does not come at the expense of Earth or the long-term sustainability of space.

Jason Jabbour, Senior Officer at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), emphasized the importance of considering the environmental impact of space programs early in their development. He stated, “Decades of rapidly expanding space activity have shown that each launch leaves an environmental footprint, and it can take a long time to understand the impact fully. This is why it is so crucial to consider the sustainability of these programmes early on.”

Despite international agreements aimed at preventing contamination of outer space, an estimated 140 million pieces of debris larger than one millimetre currently orbit Earth. Many of these fragments are too small to track but still pose significant risks to satellites and spacecraft. Some debris remains in orbit for years before breaking apart or re-entering Earth's atmosphere, where larger heat-resistant components can survive and threaten people, infrastructure, and marine life.

The UN also highlighted the environmental challenges accompanying a new era of space exploration, including NASA’s Artemis II mission earlier this year. This mission carried four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon as part of plans to establish a long-term human presence on the lunar surface during the 2030s.

The UN's call underscores the need for responsible exploration and debris reduction to protect space and safeguard life and ecosystems on Earth.

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