_FV.png)
2nd Conference on
Earth-Space Sustainability:
Law, Stewardship, Equity
18 - 20 March 2026
Leiden University, Academy Building, Rapenburg 73
About the Conference
Earth and outer space have become increasingly intertwined environmentally, politically, and philosophically, as satellite constellations multiply, lunar activities expand, and aspirations for Mars and beyond gain momentum. The 2nd conference on Earth-Space Sustainability, to be held March 18-20, 2026 in Leiden, the Netherlands, invites researchers and practitioners to engage with an emerging Earth-Space systems paradigm - one that demands a fundamental rethinking of sustainability governance. Central to this are questions of law, stewardship, and equity as they intersect with a range of contemporary issues drawing from the pasts to the futures: from the histories of astronomy to the deployment of satellite infrastructures, space debris accumulation, planetary protection, and the ethical obligations for and integrity of other celestial bodies. This conference, hosted as part of the Earth-Space Sustainability Network, provides a critical forum for theoretical reflection, interdisciplinary exchange, and future collaborations to address Earth-Space sustainability challenges in the 21st century. We welcome contributions from across disciplines and knowledge traditions, and encourage submissions that address a diverse range of topics, methodologies, and empirical contexts. Transdisciplinary knowledge perspectives and participation from non-academic practitioners are especially encouraged.
Partners
_FV.png)
Past Events
Call for “Research Papers”, “Special Sessions”, and “Creative Contributions’’
​
The 2nd Conference on Earth-Space Sustainability welcomes three types of contributions, i.e. Research Papers, Special Sessions, and Creative Contributions that fit into one (or more) of the conference tracks. Research Papers are academic research contributions; they may offer new theoretical insights and frameworks, new empirical research findings, or broader systematic reviews of the literature. Special Sessions can be in the form of panels, roundtables, or mini-workshops to discuss specific issues or explore policy ideas. In addition, we welcome creative contributions such as short films, music, or art.
Conference tracks:
​
1) Histories, philosophy, and imagination of the futures. This conference track addresses the spatial and temporal dimensions of Earth-Space sustainability, focusing on the conceptions and understandings of Earth-Space systems drawing on histories, indigenous and alternative knowledge systems, modern astronomy, and cosmological imagination of the futures.
​
2) Environmental sustainability and integrity. This track focuses on legal and governance implications related to environmental sustainability and the integrity of the Earth system and other celestial bodies as a result of human-driven space activities. Topics of interest include the atmospheric borderlands (where Earth- and space-based impacts and activities interact in the most direct way) such as potential ozone depletion from launches, satellite re-entries and burn-ups, and space debris, as well as the integrity of other planets, moons, and asteroids. What are the implications for governance, including the intersections between space law and environmental law? In what ways should sustainability governance transform in the context of other celestial bodies?
​
3. Commons, resource and data governance. This track deals with governance questions of access, use, and distribution of commons, resources and data. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, access and distribution of radio spectrum and orbital space, governing the extraction of water, metals, or helium-3 or other resources,, managing the access to and distribution of data for space applications and science, and the protection of space heritage. For instance, how would distributive justice be ensured concerning the different types of commons?
​
4. Anticipatory governance of anthropogenic and natural space risks. This track considers the question of how to prepare for, and respond to, a variety of space-related risks, from gamma ray bursts and biological contamination and Kessler syndrome, up to asteroid impacts and other concerns of planetary risk governance. Contributions could assess gaps in existing legal and governance frameworks, or propose potential options, including by drawing on experiences learned from other issue areas.
5. Peace, politics, and stability. What are the implications for global peace, politics, and stability, amidst rising Earth-Space sustainability challenges? What are the new challenges of global and planetary (dis)order, and how should governance ensure peaceful, just, and stable futures?
Additional events at the conference:
Space policy and science communication. There will be a training session for early-career researchers, currently planned by FOGOS working group 1 and other interested parties. This could be in the form of a mini-workshop.
Key Information
​
-
Participation: Limited to 50 participants
-
Funding:
-
20 fully-funded spots available????
-
Travel reimbursement up to €700 (train/flight)
-
Daily allowance up to €200/day (meals + accommodation)
-
-
Format: In-person presentations
Submission Details
​
-
Abstract length: max 300 words
-
Deadline: September 7, 2025 (Closed)