Academy Fellow, Dr Surinder Singh FAA FTSE (third from right, middle row) attended the S20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 1–2 July 2024. Image: Julio Cesar Guimaraes
The Australian Academy of Science has over the past months contributed to discussions on urgent global challenges via the Science20, a working group comprising national learned academies of the Group of 20 (G20).
This year’s S20, coordinated by the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), focused on the theme ‘Science for Global Transformation’. The resulting S20 Communiqué, which will be delivered to the G20 in the coming months, set out specific recommendations and implementable actions on the topics of:
Artificial intelligence: ethics, social impact, regulation and knowledge sharing
Bioeconomy: shaping the world toward a sustainable planet
Energy transition process: renewable energies, social and economic considerations
Health challenges: quality, equity, access and preparedness for epidemics and climate change
Social justice: promoting inclusion, ending poverty and reducing inequalities.
The Academy endorsed the Communiqué following discussions at the S20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro last month, attended by Academy Fellow Dr Surinder Singh.
Academy President, Professor Jagadish said, “This annual forum highlights the crucial role of science in furthering the G20’s agenda to achieve the economic growth required to pull millions of people out of poverty with inclusive – and I highlight the importance here of inclusive – and sustainable development.”
Science and international scientific collaboration serve as key mechanisms to reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goals within the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. This year’s S20 Communiqué also draws attention to the need to grasp each nation’s social and demographic trends – essential for anticipating technological requirements and driving innovation.
Recommendations
Recommendations outlined in the Communiqué include:
AI: Invest in data infrastructure, high-performance computing, and training to use AI effectively in fields of application.
Bioeconomy: Build robust international and multilateral cooperation: The G20 nations should reach a consensus on the role of the bioeconomy as one of the strategies for tackling climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, and human and non-human health. Formulate a joint policy framework that enables countries to implement bioeconomy programs, invest in social and technological innovations, share critical knowledge, improve the quality of life, and safeguard natural resources.
Energy transition process: Social and economic considerations should include job creation, technological advancements, equitable access to energy, public engagement and environmental justice.
Health challenges: Address climate and environmental changes impact on communicable and non-communicable diseases by research and environmental management and improved surveillance.
Social justice: Enhance scientific literacy: Cultivate scientific literacy and awareness of science as a self-correcting process; equip societies to meet future technological challenges through better scientific understanding.
The Academy congratulates the ABC for its vibrant coordination of this year’s meetings and for producing a valuable statement that will provide evidence-informed scientific advice to G20 Heads of State and Government.
Next year’s S20 meetings will be coordinated by the Academy of Science South Africa under South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
