Alex Gilbert - Framework for Lunar Environmental Impact Analyses - 2020 Lunar Development Conference

Speaker:
Alex Gilbert
Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines
Project Manager at Nuclear Innovation Alliance

Presentation Info:
Developing a Framework for Lunar Environmental Impact Analyses

Environmental impact analyses (EIAs) are critical tools to guide government and commercial development in a way that is sustainable and socially acceptable. As the moon faces a renewed interest for scientific and industrial operations, evaluating the need for and developing a framework for lunar EIAs is important. This research paper reviews the legal basis for lunar EIAs, identifies their potential scope, and provides guidance for future missions. Although not currently established, existing international and national laws may already require or encourage lunar EIAs. Likely considerations include lunar dust, forward and backward contamination, Apollo heritage, and conservation of locally-limited resources. As the US and partners develop the Artemis Accords, future plans can look to terrestrial best practice to inform popular, sustainable lunar development.

Speaker Bio:
Alex Gilbert is a complex systems researcher who focuses on governance and market design for energy, nuclear, and space technologies. He is a Project Manager at the Nuclear Innovation Alliance, where he advances regulatory and policy reform for advanced reactors to support climate mitigation. Previously, Alex worked in the private sector as an energy market analyst and climate policy consultant. Among other places, he has been quoted on energy policy issues in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Financial Times.

Alex also researches energy markets, energy security, and space policy as a non-resident Fellow at the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines. In this role he has coauthored articles that have appeared in Foreign Policy, National Interest, and Georgetown Journal of International Affairs. His academic work explores the intersection between energy markets and climate governance, with research published in Nature Climate Change, Energy, and Energy Policy. Alex is also Adjunct Faculty at Johns Hopkins University, where is he developing a course on nuclear technology, policy, and regulations. He has a Master of Energy Regulation and Law and Certificate in Climate Law from Vermont Law School.

From the 2020 Lunar Development Conference, held on July 19-20, 2020 as a virtual event by The Moon Society. For more details, visit www.MoonSociety.org #LunarDevCon #MoonSociety #Moon