In preparation for the forthcoming G20 summit scheduled for 22 and 23 November 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the scientific academies representing the G20 nations have collaboratively produced a comprehensive, science-based joint statement titled “Climate Change and Well-Being.” Spearheaded through the Science20 process, this declaration encapsulates a multidisciplinary approach to confronting the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. Among the contributing bodies is the prestigious German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, highlighting the global recognition and urgency embedded within this initiative. The statement not only underscores the critical need for CO₂ emission reductions but also presents an array of strategies aimed at ameliorating the health, ecological, and technological repercussions arising from climate perturbations.
Fundamental to the recommendations is the acknowledgement that the singularly most effective approach to climate change mitigation continues to be the rigorous and sustained reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Professor Dr. Bettina Rockenbach, President of Leopoldina, emphasizes that combating climate change requires a simultaneous focus on mitigating the resultant impacts, particularly in vulnerable populations who confront the relentless advance of weather extremes, dwindling resources, and escalating threats to public health and overall well-being. This dual-pronged strategy—mitigation coupled with adaptive measures—constitutes a cornerstone of the science academies’ position, reflecting the nuanced reality that climate change is an ongoing phenomenon with immediate and future implications.
A pivotal concept embraced within the joint statement is the One Health framework, a holistic strategy recognizing the intrinsic interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health. This integrative model is critical when addressing complex climate-related challenges such as food and water security, biodiversity preservation, and environmental pollution. The One Health approach transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries, advocating for comprehensive monitoring systems that assess water and air quality in real-time, coupled with sophisticated early warning mechanisms. Additionally, the academies endorse robust disaster management plans designed to respond swiftly and effectively to climate-induced emergencies, thereby minimizing human and environmental harm.
The sustainable stewardship of natural resources emerges as another core theme within the statement, specifically highlighting the necessity for judicious land, water, and energy management. Strengthening local food systems is posited as a vital adaptive measure, enhancing resilience to supply disruptions while preserving agricultural diversity and soil health. Moreover, the restoration and conservation of natural ecosystems are foregrounded as essential to maintaining ecological functions that buffer communities against climate shocks. Recognizing the invaluable insights offered by indigenous and vulnerable populations, the statement urges their active inclusion in the co-design and implementation of adaptation strategies, thereby fostering equity and cultural sensitivity in climate action.
Technological innovation is delineated as a critical vector for advancing the energy transition imperative to climate mitigation. The academies advocate for intensified research and deployment of renewables, alongside the exploration of emerging technologies such as carbon cycle management, which includes carbon capture, utilization, and storage techniques. Coupled with market-based instruments designed to incentivize low-carbon solutions, these approaches signal a transformative shift in global energy systems. This systemic overhaul is viewed as indispensable not only for achieving emission targets but also for realigning economic and infrastructural paradigms to accommodate a sustainable future.
The drafting of this landmark statement was coordinated under the auspices of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), with substantive contributions from the Leopoldina and other G20 academies. This collaboration marks the ninth consecutive summit at which scientific advisory bodies have played a formal advisory role, following the Science20 dialogue forum’s initiation during Germany’s G20 presidency in 2017. The continuity and maturation of this scientific engagement reflect a growing recognition within the international policy landscape of the critical importance of evidence-based strategies in global governance, particularly on existential issues such as climate change.
Underlying the scientific counsel is the critical principle that while academies provide rigorously vetted knowledge and actionable recommendations, the ultimate decision-making authority resides within democratically legitimized political institutions. The expertise offered is impeccably independent, volunteer-driven, and multidisciplinary, encompassing approximately 1,700 members from over 30 countries across a broad spectrum of research domains. This diversity ensures that the recommendations are both globally relevant and sufficiently granular, capable of informing nuanced policy actions tailored to heterogeneous socio-economic and environmental contexts.
The intersection between climate change and public health is given pronounced emphasis in the joint statement. Scientific consensus increasingly illuminates the devastating impacts of rising temperatures and altered environmental conditions on human health outcomes, ranging from heat-related illnesses and vector-borne diseases to mental health stressors and nutritional deficiencies attributable to compromised food systems. The academies underscore the imperative to monitor health disparities exacerbated by climate phenomena, advocating adaptive frameworks that prioritize health equity and resilience within at-risk communities. This integration of health sciences into climate policy reiterates the transdisciplinary ethos permeating the statement.
In the ecological dimension, the academies document the accelerating loss of biodiversity as both a symptom and driver of climate change, highlighting the feedback loops that exacerbate ecosystem degradation and reduce the capacity for natural carbon sequestration. Prioritizing ecosystem restoration, protection, and sustainable management is thus not merely an environmental imperative but a strategic component of climate mitigation and adaptation. The statement articulates the need to develop scalable interventions that leverage ecological services, recognizing that intact ecosystems underpin economic stability and human prosperity.
On a technological front, the document explores advanced monitoring methodologies leveraging remote sensing, environmental sensors, and data analytics to furnish timely insights into climatic shifts and their localized impacts. The integration of such technologies into early warning systems constitutes a proactive measure, enhancing preparedness and reducing vulnerability. Concurrently, the academies advocate for the acceleration of clean energy technologies, energy efficiency measures, and innovation in carbon management, underscoring the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers to expedite the transition toward a low-carbon global economy.
This comprehensive statement stands as a testament to the evolving role of scientific academies in global climate governance. By melding evidence-based analyses with policy pragmatism, these academic institutions endeavor to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and actionable policy frameworks. Their involvement in the G20 summit highlights an increasing institutionalization of scientific advisory mechanisms, aimed at fortifying international cooperation and facilitating informed decision-making on climate challenges that transcend national boundaries.
As the world gears up for the Johannesburg summit, the recommendations outlined by the Science20 process serve as a clarion call for immediate, coordinated, and science-driven action. The joint statement not only delineates the perils posed by unmitigated climate change but also maps pathways toward resilient societies attuned to the interconnected challenges of health, ecology, and technology. The inclusivity of vulnerable voices and the insistence on interdisciplinary approaches epitomize a progressive vision for climate governance—one where science, society, and policy converge to secure a sustainable, equitable future.
Subject of Research: Climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies integrating health, ecology, and technology impacts.
Article Title: Science20 Joint Statement on “Climate Change and Well-Being” Ahead of G20 2025 Summit
News Publication Date: Not explicitly stated (prior to 22-23 November 2025)
Web References:
– Leopoldina on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/leopoldina.org
– Leopoldina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nationale-akademie-der-wissenschaften-leopoldina
– Leopoldina on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationalakademieleopoldina
– Leopoldina on X (Twitter): https://www.twitter.com/leopoldina
Keywords: Climate change adaptation, Climate change effects, Climate change mitigation, Health equity, Public health, Human health, Sustainable resource management, One Health approach, Carbon cycle management, Scientific community, Environmental monitoring, Early warning systems
