The Space Generation Azerbaijan 2024 (SG Azerbaijan) event was held in Baku, organized by Azercosmos, the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Azerbaijan Youth Foundation (AzGF), and the Public Association for Support of Youth Education. This event, held for the second time, was dedicated to the theme Beyond Horizons: Sustainable Space, Sustainable Earth.
At the opening ceremony, Samaddin Asadov, Chairman of the Board of Azercosmos, Gadir Khalilov, Acting Executive Director of AzGF, and Nikol Koleva, Director of SGAC, highlighted the harmony between sustainability and space, emphasizing the importance of a deep understanding of the interconnection between these two fields.
According to the World Economic Forum, there are currently more than 160 satellites measuring various global warming indicators, and more than half of the major climate variables can only be measured from space.
In her video message, Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, greeted the event participants and stated that young people are the decision-makers of the future, and therefore, the future of the space sector is in their hands. According to her, today’s political decision-makers – state leaders and other representatives – bear the responsibility of ensuring the sustainability of the space sector by listening to initiatives coming from young people.
SG Azerbaijan 2024 has brought together a diverse group of individuals, including students, young professionals, and enthusiasts aged 18-35 with an interest in sustainability, acting as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange.
As a part of the program, two panel sessions were held. The first panel topic with the participation of industry-related experts was “Growing Voices: Bridging Space and Sustainability”. The second one with young professional speakers was “Beyond Borders: Young Professionals Pioneering Sustainability”.
Discussions led to a Q&A session where youth had a chance to share their views and willing for new opportunities related to sustainability and space. Participants had the opportunity to participate in a master class/team building “Space and Sustainability” where they were given the task of assembling the Hubble Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. During the session, besides teamwork and willing to win, participants received information about three telescopes and their functionality. SG Azerbaijan 2024 has increased awareness of how space initiatives can contribute to daily life both locally and globally, and has also called on participants to engage in environmentally responsible space activities.
