On December 15, 2025, Francesca Giannoni-Crystal will present a webinar examining the legal and ethical questions emerging from the development of lunar activities and the growing interest in space resource utilization (SRU).
Date & Time: Monday, December 15, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (ET)
Duration: 60 Minutes
https://knowlearninghub.com/courses/lunar-governance-and-space-resource-utilization-cle-environmental-energy-law-webinar/
As human activity on the Moon transitions from exploratory missions to sustained operations, governments and private companies alike are preparing for activities such as in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing (ISAM), lunar infrastructure, energy production, and potential habitation. These developments raise important questions about the legal framework that will govern operations on the lunar surface.
The webinar will examine the international legal foundations for lunar activities, focusing on the Outer Space Treaty as the cornerstone of the existing regime. Key principles—such as free access to outer space, the prohibition on national appropriation, state responsibility for national activities, and the duty of due regard—will be discussed in light of their application to increasingly complex and multi-actor lunar missions.
The program will also address emerging governance approaches shaping expectations for responsible conduct in space. These include international guidelines such as the Long-Term Sustainability of Outer Space Activities Guidelines and scientific standards such as the COSPAR Planetary Protection Policy, as well as cooperative initiatives such as the Artemis Accords and the International Lunar Research Station framework.
In addition, the presentation will examine the role of national legislation recognizing rights in extracted space resources and the licensing structures currently used to authorize commercial space activities. Particular attention will be given to how existing regulatory systems—originally designed for Earth-orbiting satellites—may evolve to accommodate sustained lunar operations.
Finally, the webinar will consider ethical and environmental issues associated with lunar development and discuss the expanding role lawyers may play in supporting the emerging lunar economy.
