The UN Principles on Remote Sensing today

摘要

Part I of this paper addresses the validity of the 1986 UN Principles on Remote Sensing and their consistency in today's scenarios. After analysing the objectives of remote sensing activities in Principle I - drafted at a time when the magnitude of commercial space activities was not envisaged - the presentation looks at certain specific areas, such as the position of the industrialised world regarding the free distribution and commercialisation of data collected by satellites, once processed -which is seen by the developing world as a kind of "surrender of sovereignty"- and the demand for more precision on the part of this group of countries concerning certain clauses of the Principles. Such, inter alia, "the legitimate rights and interests of the sensed State", the implications of "international cooperation" and the "participation of the sensed state in remote sensing activities". This remains an element of discord confronting the industrialised and the developing world.