International law beyond the Earth system: orbital debris and interplanetary pollution

The ongoing environmental degradation of outer space is unpredictable and disruptive. A new understanding of the cosmic and post-anthropocentric politico-juridical space – or the ‘cosmolegal’ – might provide an alternative framework. The ‘cosmolegal’ argument responds to the ‘cosmic’ need to rethink the anthropogenic self-understanding of human-ity’s law because humanity has been approaching the ‘infinity’ of space with a legal con-sciousnesses firmly rooted in terrestrial human values. This approach needs to change due to the unknown and known consequences of the rapidly expanding human presence in outer space.