The United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS; hereafter the Committee) will commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNISPACE+50) in 2018. These celebrations will also aim to define strategies and priorities for the COPUOS and which shape the global “Space 2030” agenda. The Committee has identified seven potential thematic priorities for UNISPACE+50 for future work in the period up to 2030. One of these is “Thematic Priority 4: International framework for space weather services”.

In 2015, the Committee under its permanent space weather agenda item established a Space Weather Expert Group. The Expert Group is now tasked by the Committee with seeking input towards the development of an international framework for space weather services under the UNISPACE+50 Thematic Priority 4. Specifically the draft focus for such a strategy is:

"Thematic Priority 4: International framework for space weather services

Objective: Strengthen the reliability of space systems and their ability to respond to the impact of adverse space weather. Develop a space weather road map for international coordination and information exchange on space weather events and their mitigation, through risk analysis and assessment of user needs. Recognize space weather as a global challenge and the need to address the vulnerability of society as a whole. Increase awareness through developed communication, capacity-building and outreach. Identify governance and cooperation mechanisms to support this objective."

Through this EGU Town Hall, the UN Space Weather Expert Group will seek to provide a forum to update EGU scientists and researchers about the COPUOS activity. The Town Hall will also provide EGU researchers with the opportunity to provide input into the development of this UN strategy. A significant focus for EGU scientists is expected to include the importance of developing and advancing the fundamental understanding of the underlying processes which cause severe space weather - consistent with the recently published COSPAR-ILWS Roadmap, “Understanding space weather to shield society: A global road map for 2015–2025 commissioned by COSPAR and ILWS” - see Schrijver et al., Adv. Space Res., 55(12), 2745-2807, (2015).

Prof. Ian R. Mann, University of Alberta (Canada).
Chair and Rapporteur for the UN COPUOS Expert Group on Space Weather.

Prof. Hermann Opgenoorth, Swedish Institute of Space Physics (Sweden).

Dr. Juha-Pekka.Luntama, Space Weather Program Manager, ESA SSA Program Office (ESOC, Germany)

Dr. Terrance Onsager, NOAA/NWS/Space Weather Prediction Center (USA)