United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
Miguel Ramirez
Chair
migarampe@gmail.com
Kevin Vargas
Co-Chair
kevinvargasdarcia@gmail.com
The Galactic Council – The Ethics of Terraforming and Space Colonization
​As humanity expands its reach beyond Earth, the ethical, legal, and environmental implications of terraforming and space colonization have become pressing global concerns. With technological advancements in space travel and resource extraction, the idea of settling on Mars, the Moon, and other celestial bodies is moving from science fiction to reality. However, these ambitions raise fundamental questions: Who owns space? Should humanity alter extraterrestrial environments? How do we ensure peaceful and equitable space exploration? This committee will explore the moral and legal frameworks necessary to govern the expansion of human civilization beyond Earth while ensuring the responsible and ethical use of space resources.
Terraforming refers to the process of modifying the atmosphere, temperature, and surface of a planet or moon to make it habitable for humans. While theoretical models exist for Mars, Venus, and Europa, large-scale planetary engineering remains a future possibility. Space colonization, on the other hand, is already being pursued by government agencies and private companies, with projects such as NASA’s Artemis program, SpaceX’s Mars colony vision, and China’s lunar exploration missions paving the way for human settlements in space.