Foto: BB.LV / Луна
While space powers and private corporations are making plans to establish lunar bases and mine extraterrestrial resources, researchers are sounding the alarm: we risk irreparably damaging Earth's natural satellite before we even agree on the rules of the game. Professors Florian Rabitz from Vilnius University and Xiao-Shan Yap from Utrecht University published an article in Global Environmental Politics calling for a temporary moratorium on lunar industrialization. **Why the Moon Needs a Breather** In their work, the authors note that the commercial and geopolitical frenzy surrounding the satellite is growing at an alarming rate. However, large-scale construction and industrial resource extraction threaten irreversible consequences for the unique lunar environment, hinder future scientific discoveries, and devalue the cultural significance of the celestial body. As a solution, the scientists propose a moratorium — that is, a temporary international ban on any industrial activity on the Moon, except for strictly justified scientific missions. According to the researchers, there are already successful legal precedents in human history for such pauses: for example, the existing moratorium on commercial mineral extraction in Antarctica, which has allowed the continent to be preserved for science and peace. **The Risk of a 'Space Wild West'** Florian Rabitz identifies unequal access to resources and the actual seizure of territories as one of the main threats. Modern international space law (which is based on the 1967 Outer Space Treaty) enshrines a basic principle: no country can proclaim sovereignty over the Moon or appropriate it for itself. However, in practice, things could turn out differently. "It is quite clear that whoever first establishes large infrastructure on the Moon will begin to solidify their position, including defining their own exclusive zones. The Moon must not become the Wild West," warns Rabitz. Without strict international control, the exploration of the satellite will become a privilege of superpowers and the wealthiest corporations. **A Voice for All Humanity** The scientists acknowledge that restraining the ambitions of space giants will be difficult. Meanwhile, most of Earth's inhabitants are unaware of the large-scale projects that are already being prepared for launch and how significantly they could impact the future of civilization. That is why the authors of the study believe that a temporary ban is necessary as a "breath of fresh air." The pause will allow states, scientists, and civil society from around the world to calmly develop reliable standards for environmental safety in space and fairly decide who and how should benefit from lunar exploration — so that decisions are made in the interests of all humanity, not just a few players.
