An International Governance Model for the Management of Lunar Resources: A Proposal from the Perspective of UNCLOS and the Antarctic Treaty System

Abstract

Mining activities on the Moon and other celestial bodies mark the beginning of a new era in the commercialization of space exploration, directly impacting not only economic competition but also the sustainability of scientific research, environmental protection, and the future of the “common heritage of mankind” principle. Existing international space law, particularly the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the 1979 Moon Agreement, does not provide a binding or institutionalized international mechanism for resource management, resulting in legal uncertainties and the risk of unequal access to lunar resources. By contrast, comparable “common heritage” domains such as the international seabed (UNCLOS) and Antarctica (Antarctic Treaty System) have established detailed governance structures that secure equitable benefit-sharing, environmental protection, and scientific cooperation through binding provisions. There is a limited scholarship offering an in-depth comparison of these two governance models in the context of the Moon, leaving a significant research gap. This study addresses that gap by conducting a comparative analysis of the institutional and legal features of the International Seabed Authority under UNCLOS and the governance framework of the Antarctic Treaty System, examining how these models could inform the design of a yet-to-be-determined governance mechanism for the Moon under the Moon Agreement. Using a comparative legal methodology, the study identifies similarities, differences, and transferable governance practices among the three regimes. The findings underscore the need for establishing a binding international authority to ensure the peaceful, equitable, and sustainable conduct of lunar mining activities. They provide concrete legal and policy recommendations for strengthening the current space law regime, institutionalizing international cooperation, and making environmental protection measures legally enforceable.

Keywords

• Key Words: Lunar mining
• Common heritage of mankind
• International governance
• Space law
• Equitable benefit-sharing.

Ay Kaynaklarının Yönetimi İçin Uluslararası Yönetim Modeli: BMDHS ve Antarktika Antlaşma Sistemi Perspektifinden Bir Öneri

Abstract

Ay yüzeyinde ve diğer gök cisimlerinde yürütülecek madencilik faaliyetleri, uzay araştırmalarının ticarileşmesinde yeni bir dönemin kapısını aralamakta; yalnızca ekonomik rekabeti değil, aynı zamanda bilimsel araştırmaların sürdürülebilirliğini, çevresel korumayı ve “insanlığın ortak mirası” ilkesinin geleceğini de doğrudan etkilemektedir. Mevcut uluslararası uzay hukuku, özellikle 1967 tarihli Dış Uzay Antlaşması ve 1979 tarihli Ay Antlaşması, kaynak yönetimine ilişkin bağlayıcı ve kurumsallaşmış bir uluslararası mekanizma öngörmemekte, bu nedenle Ay kaynaklarının yönetiminde hukuki belirsizlikler ve eşitsiz erişim riskleri ortaya çıkmaktadır. Oysa benzer “ortak miras” alanları olan uluslararası deniz yatağı (BMDHS) ve Antarktika (Antarktika Antlaşma Sistemi) için ayrıntılı yönetişim yapıları kurulmuş, kaynakların adil paylaşımı, çevresel koruma ve bilimsel iş birliği bağlayıcı hükümlerle güvence altına alınmıştır. Literatürde bu iki modelin Ay bağlamında derinlemesine karşılaştırıldığı çalışmalar sınırlı olup, bu durum önemli bir araştırma boşluğu yaratmaktadır. Bu çalışma, BMDHS kapsamındaki Uluslararası Deniz Yatağı Otoritesi ve Antarktika Antlaşma Sistemi’nin kurumsal ve hukuki özelliklerini inceleyerek, Ay Antlaşması’nda öngörülmeyen yönetim mekanizmasının nasıl tasarlanabileceğine ilişkin karşılaştırmalı bir analiz sunmakta ve gelecekteki olası düzenlemeler için normatif öneriler geliştirmektedir. Araştırmada karşılaştırmalı hukuk yöntemi kullanılarak, üç rejim arasındaki benzerlikler, farklılıklar ve uygulanabilir yönetim modelleri tespit edilmiş; bulgular, Ay madenciliğinin barışçıl, adil ve sürdürülebilir şekilde yürütülmesi için uluslararası bağlayıcı bir otoritenin gerekliliğini ortaya koymuştur. Elde edilen sonuçlar, mevcut uzay hukuku rejiminin güçlendirilmesi, uluslararası iş birliğinin kurumsallaştırılması ve çevresel koruma önlemlerinin bağlayıcı hale getirilmesi yönünde somut politika ve hukuk önerileri sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Anahtar Kelimeler: Ay madenciliği
• İnsanlığın ortak mirası
• Uluslararası yönetişim
• Uzay hukuku
• Kaynakların adil paylaşımı

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