Climate change and well-being: Science academies publish recommendations for G20 summit

Ahead of the G20 summit in Johannesburg/South Africa, on 22 and 23 November 2025, the science academies of the G20 countries, including the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, have issued science-based recommendations developed in the Science20 process. The joint statement "Climate Change and Well-Being," recommends measures to address the consequences of climate change and to adapt in the areas of health, ecology and technology.

"The most important measure for combating climate change remains a consistent reduction in CO₂ emissions," says Leopoldina President Professor Dr. Bettina Rockenbach. "At the same time, it is crucial to consider the consequences of climate change worldwide and to mitigate them particularly in those areas where people are severely affected by increasing weather extremes, resource scarcity and threats to health and well-being."

In their statement, the G20 science academies recommend, among other things, the One Health approach as a strategy for dealing with the consequences of climate change. It links the health of humans, animals and ecosystems and aims to address issues of climate change, food and water security, energy, biodiversity and environmental pollution across sectors.

Recommended measures include monitoring water and air quality, early warning systems and disaster management plans. The G20 science academies also recommend sustainable use of land, water and energy resources, particularly by strengthening local food systems and restoring natural ecosystems. The needs of vulnerable and indigenous groups and their knowledge should be taken into account when adapting to climate change.

In order to mitigate climate change, the transformation of the energy system should continue to be a focus and be advanced through new technologies, the establishment of carbon cycle management and market-based approaches.

The statement was drafted under the leadership of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) with the participation of members of the Leopoldina.

The Leaders' Summit of the 20 major industrialized and emerging countries (G20) on 22 and 23 November 2025 in Johannesburg/South Africa is the ninth in which the scientific community is contributing through the dialogue forum "Science20." The scientific advice process was launched for the G20 summit in 2017 as part of the German G20 Presidency. The G7 summits have also been accompanied by the science academies for more than 15 years.

More information:
Climate Change and Well-Being (2025). www.leopoldina.org/en/publicat … d-wohlbefinden-2025/

Provided by Leopoldina