Science20 Declaration to G20 Countries
Within the scope of Science20 (Science 20-S20), the G20 Science Advisors' Roundtable Meeting was held on August 26-27 in Gandhinagar, India. The "Science20 Declaration" prepared based on the suggestions and criticisms of academies during S20 meetings throughout the year, and provided in the attachment, will be shared with the leaders of G20 countries on September 9-10, 2023.
Since 2017, the S20 meetings have brought together national science academies of G20 countries. The theme for the year 2023 was defined as "Transformative Science for Sustainable Development," and throughout the year, discussions were conducted under three main headings: "Promoting Clean Energy for a Greener Future," "Advancing Universal and Holistic Health," and "Integrating Science with Society and Culture." These discussions took place both in-person and online in five different cities across India.
Science academies' solutions to the World's problems for the future of humankind
Reminding that India holds the rotating presidency of the G20 Leaders' Summit for 2023 and is also the leader of all sub-committees of the summit, including the S20, TÜBA President Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Şeker stated that as the national academy of Türkiye within the framework of S20 meetings, TÜBA represents Türkiye in all meetings attended by S20 Academies.
President Şeker spoke about the Science20 Declaration as follows: "In the G20 meetings held throughout 2023 under the presidency of India, all the work was carried out under the title of "Transformative Science for Sustainable Development" based on the fact that our world, our family and our future are one. Under this heading, science academies discussed clean energy, holistic health, and bringing science together with society and culture. After the intensive work of the science academies of the G20 countries at the multidisciplinary S20 meetings, the results were announced with a declaration. We all know that the future of our world is under threat; our water is rapidly decreasing, our air is polluted at the same rate, and our health is deteriorating in parallel with these processes, while on the other hand, all of this insistently emphasizes that we need to value science and approach sensitively to scientific solutions based on scientific data, as stated in the declaration. We should clearly accept that this is a basic requirement for the continuation of life and we should apply scientific recommendations in our daily lives. As academies of science and scientists, our primary duty is to bring problems to light and find solutions under the guidance of science. The existence of the world, which is the home of all of us, is in the hands of all of us. While this declaration emphasizes how important the warnings about the future of this magnificent earth and humankind are and how urgent the needs are, it also emphasizes the solution proposals."
The "Science20 Declaration" agreed upon as a result of the meetings will be included in the agenda of the final meeting of the heads of government of the G20 countries in New Delhi on September 9-10, 2023, and the declaration will be shared with the public.
On the other hand, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences will host the meetings to be organized within the scope of Brazil's G20 Presidency in 2024. In 2025, the G20 Presidency will be held by the Republic of South Africa.
One Health
President Şeker continued: "The concept of One Health, supported by the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organization (WHO), highlights the rapid spread of diseases and the inadequacy of medicines, along with the environmental harm caused by chemical waste, as significant threats to the future of countries and humanity due to globalization. It suggests that health concerns are not limited to the realm of physicians alone; instead, they involve a broad range of scientific disciplines and entities. This approach, which has been on the agenda for approximately 15 years, emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts and contributions from various scientific disciplines to address these issues."
Stating that our only habitable world, our only family, and the responsibility for the future of both our world and future generations lie within one future concept, Şeker expressed, "If we do not collectively take action, and if we continue to recklessly deplete the natural resources mentioned while living in our world, we will not have a livable planet left for future generations. To ensure a livable world for future generations, we must work together collaboratively. We should aim to establish and disseminate the fundamental principles of this concept across all countries. As a country, we contribute to these matters and provide support, expressing our reservations and concerns during discussions. The G20 Summits include about 25 member and observer countries, with large-scale economies. The approach that disregards humanitarian sensitivities for enrichment, promoting production and consumption while neglecting natural resources and the environment, has negatively contributed to the world's current state. Similarly, countries responsible for these damages should also play a more active role in implementing and enacting zero-emission and climate change-based proposals to address and rectify these damages."
To access the joint statements published by the Academies of Sciences in previous years: https://tuba.gov.tr/files/yayinlar/bilim-ve-dusun/TUBA-978-625-8352-18-4.pdf
Science20 is a working group of the science academies of the G20 countries, called S20 in short, working to provide leaders and the world community with a scientific basis for policies, and a platform for the collaboration of scientists and institutions among G20 countries. Science20 aims to help G20 leaders make the best use of science and technology and provides guidance to G20 leaders on scientific and technological issues.