CLIMATE CHANGEEVENTS
France and Germany warn against political compromises as Saudi Arabia refuses to endorse document
Tensions erupted at a meeting of G20 science academies this week over the wording of a statement on climate change and wellbeing.
While most of the academies present at the final Science 20 meeting under South Africa’s presidency on 23 September endorsed the joint statement, which will be handed to G20 leaders later this year, some complained that political considerations had influenced its wording.
France voiced particular concern over the removal of terms such as “fossil fuels” and “deforestation” from an earlier version of the document. “There are no words that should be forbidden,” said César Manrique Milla from the French Academy of Sciences. “S20 is supposed to be an assembly of science-centric institutions, not of diplomats.”
Germany also cautioned against allowing political compromises to dilute scientific advice.
“Our role as science academies is to provide independent, evidence-based advice. To do this, we have to rise above politics,” said Bettina Rockenbach, president of the German National Academy of Sciences. “If we scientists cannot agree on significantly advancing climate action, how can we expect the political leaders in the G20 to do so?”
