The Missing Ingredients for a Polycentric Governance System of Orbital Debris

Jean-Frédéric Morin and Cynthia Couette

Global Environmental Politics, 2025, vol. 25, issue 2, 1-26

Abstract: The pollution of Earth’s orbits by debris represents a pressing environmental problem. Recognizing that geopolitical factors hinder the adoption of a multilateral solution, several experts advocate for a polycentric governance system, inspired by Elinor Ostrom’s work. This article assesses the viability of such a proposal. It finds that the global network of space organizations exhibits some of the structural characteristics of a polycentric system. However, arrangements concluded among these organizations fail to promote sustainability norms, and interviews with key stakeholders reveal the absence of several favorable factors for a sustainable polycentric governance system. The article concludes that a polycentric structure alone does not guarantee the emergence of sustainable governance. As orbital space is a relatively “easy case” for applying polycentricity theory to the global commons, this research serves as a reminder about the limitations of polycentric approaches in global environmental politics.

Keywords: Polycentricity; space sustainability; space debris; space governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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