In recent years, the number of objects in space has grown rapidly, and this growth is projected to continue to accelerate over the next decade. There has also been increased military activity in space, including rendezvous and proximity operations and debris-creating anti-satellite tests. These trends pose risks to the sustainability and security of the space environment – risks that have the potential to negatively affect all space users, including those in the astronomy and astrophysics communities. In many cases, addressing these issues requires international coordination and cooperation.

This talk reviews some of the current challenges and risks to the space environment and discusses ongoing efforts to develop international policy solutions.