The commercialisation of space refers to the commercial use of satellites, as well as recent developments such as space exploration programmes, commercialisation of launch services, and the commercialisation of access to space as well. Aside from the advent of commercialised initiatives, traditionally space initiatives are supported or regulated by the state/state-related organisations.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change produced two major CO2 emission reduction mechanisms: the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 created a top-down system that assigned binding emission targets to industrialised nations only. The Paris Agreement of 2015, on the other hand, created a bottom-up approach where all countries, including less developed nations, set their own goals.