G20 Academies of Science call for coordinated action on climate change for the well-being of people and the planet

Since 2017, the Academies of Science of the G20 countries have met annually as part of Science20 (S20) to formulate scientific recommendations for the G20 Heads of State and Government on major global challenges.

In 2025, under the South African presidency of the G20, the S20 Academies met on September 23 around the theme "Climate Change and Well-Being", in line with the G20 theme:Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability.

--> Read the declaration Climate change and well-being Science20 (S20) South Africa 2025 Statement 
-->Download the FR version (translated by the Academy of Sciences)

Below, the statement translated by the Academy of Sciences:
Climate change remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with profound consequences for human and planetary well-being. It threatens health, livelihoods and the stability of life support systems on Earth, particularly for vulnerable populations. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) bases its assessments on decadal and multi-decadal averages, rather than annual observations. The year 2024 has been designated as the hottest on record, due to progressive global warming trends. Since the industrial era, past and present human activities have been the main drivers of climate change, far outpacing natural phenomena such as solar variations, volcanic eruptions, ocean currents and natural greenhouse gas emissions.

Meeting the effects of climate change requires urgent, science-based solutions for mitigation and adaptation, guided by evidence-based policies and global cooperation. While climate change entails risks and trade-offs, addressing it also opens up opportunities for innovation and offers numerous co-benefits for health, ecosystems and the economy.

The theme of the S20 in 2025, "Climate Change and Well-Being", aligns with that of the G20 in South Africa: Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability. The declaration outlines five priority areas, each accompanied by recommendations.

Priority Area 1: Human and Environmental Health
Climate change negatively affects human well-being, oceans, air and water quality, and reduces biodiversity. More frequent heat waves, storms, floods, droughts and forest fires are weakening ecosystem resilience, causing population displacement, worsening food and nutrition insecurity, and increasing the risk of diseases, particularly infectious ones.

Key recommendations:
- Set up and improve air and water quality monitoring systems, strengthen regulations and promote clean technologies.
- Develop early warning and response capabilities through data, advanced analytical tools and climate-health monitoring systems.
- Strengthen disaster management plans, taking into account vulnerable populations and protecting essential ecosystem services.

Priority area 2: Food, water and energy Nexus
Climate change is disrupting the interconnected systems that ensure the availability of food, water and energy. In the face of population growth and aspirations for better living conditions, integrated policies, efficient technologies and sustainable consumption patterns are essential.

Key recommendations:
- Promote climate-smart, nature-friendly agriculture.
- Strengthen local food systems and support small-scale producers through training and community-based practices.
- Encourage compact, efficient and low-emission urbanization, integrating sustainable water management, renewable energy and urban agriculture.
- Strengthen the resilience of global food systems.

Priority area 3: Indigenous peoples, local communities and vulnerable populations

The knowledge, practices and values of indigenous peoples and local communities are essential for coping with climate impacts. Yet their livelihoods, health and cultural heritage are particularly at risk.

Key recommendations:
- Promote the active participation of indigenous peoples and integrate their traditional knowledge into climate policies.
- Support inclusive community practices that strengthen adaptive capacity.
- Ensure accessibility of early warning systems to vulnerable populations.

Priority area 4: Adaptation to climate change
Despite progress, current adaptation efforts remain insufficient. Effective adaptation, taking into account a variety of scenarios, is essential to reduce vulnerability, particularly in areas at high climate risk.

Key recommendations:
- Strengthen infrastructure and early warning systems, integrating local capacities.
- Improve access to regional, national and global data to guide evidence-based climate action.
- Restore and protect natural and semi-natural ecosystems to strengthen adaptation and preserve biodiversity.

Priority area 5: Climate change mitigation

To limit the impacts of climate change, it is crucial to sustainably reduce emissions until carbon neutrality is achieved. This means moving away from human activities that emit greenhouse gases, embracing renewable energies and low-emission technologies, and investing in circular and nature-based solutions.

Key recommendations:
- Accelerate the adoption of emission-reducing solutions, taking into account environmental and socio-economic contexts.
- Implement circular solutions such as the circular carbon economy (CCE), investing in infrastructure, raising awareness and monitoring progress.
- Consider research programs on CO₂ removal, solar radiation management and other forms of geoengineering, under rigorous governance.

Read the report Climate geoengineering: a call for caution and rigorous guidance from the French Academy of Sciences

Perspectives and the way forward
Strengthening mitigation actions reduces climate risks and adaptation costs. Accelerated adoption of clean technologies offers opportunities even to regions with low hydro or wind potential. Ecosystem-based adaptation can strengthen urban resilience, protect food systems and open up new markets for developing countries.

Inclusive planning in health, transport, agriculture, construction, energy and water can establish beneficial safety nets for vulnerable populations and contribute to global well-being.

In the face of climate urgency, acting decisively in the five priority areas can improve public health, promote social equity, strengthen food and water security, and stimulate sustainable innovation. With global cooperation, inclusivity and science at the heart of climate action, these challenges can become powerful catalysts for shared prosperity.

The list of S20 Academies:

Academia Europea
Argentina 
African Union
Australia
Canada 
China 
France
Germany 
India 
Indonesia 
Italy
Japan 
Mexico
Russia 
Saudi Arabia
South Korea 
Türkiye 
UK 
 

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