The news was officially announced almost simultaneously with the International Women's Day: the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (Unoosa) new Director is the Italian astrophysics Simonetta Di Pippo. For the first time our country is at the top of the body responsible for the programs of the UN to promote international cooperation in the space sector and cut this milestone thanks to the extraordinary professionalism of a woman.
"We are particularly proud of this nomination - said the special commissioner of the Italian Space Agency, Aldo Sandrulli - which will further luster to our country and ASI. It's a job - said Sandrulli - high responsibility to which the Di Pippo came thanks to his undoubted skills and proven professionalism."
"Great satisfaction" was expressed by Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini: "It is a significant recognition - said the Mogherini - Italian excellence in science at an international level."
The astrophysics Italian - born in Rome in 1959 and entered the ASI fine since its founding in 1988 - was director of Human Spaceflight at the European Space Agency and Special Adviser to the Director General, as is the current Head Observatory for the European Space Policy for the Italian Space Agency.
To date, the Di Pippo is also, among other things, co-founder President of the International Women in Aerospace Europe (WIA -E). The Unoosa is based in Vienna and operates mainly through the COPUOS, the Committee of the General Assembly for the peaceful uses of outer space. The Italian ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna Filippo Formica emphasized the value of the appointment of Di Pippo for Italy, which " demonstrates, once more, that the Italian excellence are highly competitive on the international level."
Source: Italian Space Agency
Simonetta Di Pippo is the new UNOOSA Director
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Europe votes on the new air quality directive
The European Parliament's vote (and subsequently the Council of Europe's) on the new European Directive on air quality is expected for September 13. This directive updates the allowed atmospheric pollutant limits, bringing them closer to those established by the WHO in 2021. Resistance to the new objectives, mainly coming from the industrial world and established economic interests in certain regions, makes the outcome of the vote uncertain. However, there are no serious scientific or political reasons to oppose or attempt to dilute the more ambitious limits proposed by the new directive.
Image credits: JC Gellidon/Unsplash
The new European Directive on air quality, currently under discussion in the European Parliament, updates the concentration limits of major air pollutants, bringing them closer to those set by the new guidelines of the World Health Organization (2021). The outcome of the vote, scheduled for September 13, is uncertain.