The statements released by the science academies are intended to inform discussions at the G-7 summit in Germany in June. The development of the statements was led by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. NAS President Marcia McNutt (third from left) was present at the May 31 handover of the statements to Wolfgang Schmidt, Head of the German Federal Chancellery. (Photo by David Ausserhofer for the Leopoldina)

WASHINGTON — Science academies from the G-7 nations today issued statements urging their governments to take action on four major global challenges — developing antiviral drugs to prepare for future pandemics, speeding progress on decarbonization, protecting the oceans and sea ice, and implementing a One Health approach to zoonotic disease and antimicrobial resistance.

The statements are intended to inform discussions during the G-7 summit to be held in Germany in June, as well as ongoing policymaking.

“Our health and the health of our planet are deeply interconnected, and we must prioritize both,” said U.S. National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt. “Governments should act swiftly and collaborate on addressing these global challenges with science to ensure a better future for us all.”

Antiviral Drugs: Increasing Preparedness for the Next Pandemic [PDF]
One lesson learned from the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is that, in addition to prophylactic vaccines, effective antiviral drugs are needed, the academies’ statement says. It calls on the G-7 governments to foster the discovery and development of specific and broad-spectrum antiviral drugs, build adequate infrastructures for efficient clinical studies, and promote international coordination in the field of pandemic preparedness.

Decarbonisation: The Case for Urgent International Action [PDF]
The G-7 nations have contributed nearly half of global cumulative emissions, and currently emit about 25% of annual global carbon dioxide emissions, the statement notes. Immediate action is necessary to accelerate the transition to a world with net-zero — even negative — greenhouse gas emissions. The statement calls on G-7 governments to build a carbon neutral and resilient energy system, strengthen international cooperation toward a just energy transition worldwide, strengthen climate literacy and citizen involvement, and promote research as well as technological and social innovation toward climate neutrality.

Ocean and Cryosphere: The Need for Urgent International Action [PDF]
The ocean and the cryosphere — which includes sea ice, glaciers, ice sheets, snow cover, and permafrost — are changing faster than ever before due to anthropogenic climate change, the statement says. It urges actions to protect the ocean and the cryosphere by ambitious reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement; strengthen the capacity of the ocean biosphere to contribute to climate change mitigation; and engage all forms of knowledge, including Indigenous knowledge, in research efforts. The statement also recommends that G-7 governments enhance international scientific cooperation and data sharing for an Earth observation and forecasting system.

The Need for a One Health Approach to Zoonotic Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance [PDF]
To address the global challenges posed by zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance, the academies call on the G-7 governments to provide leadership in implementing a One Health approach, which mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines, and communities at all levels of society to recognize the interconnectedness of health and ecosystems and to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health. The approach should be implemented at global, regional, national, and local levels, the statement says. G-7 governments should also seize opportunities of new digital technologies and artificial intelligence for the prevention and control of zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance and foster research and development focused on the One Health approach.

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.

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U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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