1 / 2022 // LEOPOLDINA / NEWS 5
Antje Boetius ML
Director of the Alfred Wegener Institute , Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research , in Bremerhaven / Germany .
Image : Esther Horvath | Alfred Wegener Institute
Ms Boetius , why do the oceans and polar regions have such an important part to play in mitigating climate change ? Boetius : Certain parts of the world ’ s oceans and polar regions provide us with key indications of the risks we are facing . By observing them , we can see that climate change is already happening and is already having a profound effect on nature and human life . The two strongest indicators of this are coral bleaching and the decline in Arctic sea ice . More than half of the world ’ s tropical coral reef has been damaged by global warming , acidification and overexploitation of the oceans . Arctic sea ice is also extremely sensitive to the rising
Thomas Mettenleiter ML
President of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut , Federal Research Institute for Animal Health , Greifswald Island of Riems / Germany .
Image : Wolfram Maginot | FLI
temperatures caused by greenhouse gas emissions . As Arctic sea ice is lost , so too are the habitats of many species , including large marine mammals . In addition to this , the Earth system is no longer able to perform some of its vital functions .
Both of you are familiar with international policy advice through your work on previous statements . Are scientists ’ recommendations taken to heart ? Boetius : The issues raised at global summits by academies like ours are certainly taken up . The statements are deliberately concise , help to highlight the urgency of the issues and support governments to use scientific findings to tackle the challenges of the future . Although we are gradually making progress , politicians need to act more quickly and courageously . Mettenleiter : I agree that change is happening . For example , the fact that the issue of One Health is now being discussed internationally by a dedicated panel can be attributed to a Franco-German political initiative . The One Health High-Level Expert Panel founded by the World Health Organization and other global organisations met for the first time in May 2021 and will be instrumental in achieving progress in this area . Generally speaking , I do not expect our recommendations to be implemented to the letter . Scientists provide evidence-based advice , but it is politicians who make the decisions . Boetius : When it comes to climate and nature conservation , scientists often write about what is needed from a long-term , global perspective . In contrast , politicians tend to focus on more short-term local or national issues which are of importance to society . At present , I believe that too much responsibility is being placed on the individual . To make progress on climate action and nature conservation , we need a large political framework and , more importantly , much greater international cooperation . And , as shown by the pandemic , this applies to health as well .
■ THE INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BY ANNE BRÜNING
SCIENCE 7 DIALOGUE FORUM IN PREPARATION FOR THE G7 SUMMIT
On 1 January , Germany took over the presidency of the Group of Seven leading industrialised countries ( G7 ). As part of its tenure , it will host the G7 summit of heads of state and government at Schloss Elmau from 26 to 28 June 2022 . For more than 15 years , the science academies of the G7 countries have been publishing joint statements on selected topics on the summit agenda . As part of the German G7 Presidency , the Leopoldina – as the German National Academy of Sciences – has , for the second time , been engaged by the German government to oversee the
Science7 ( S7 ) process , which will prepare science-based policy advice for the summit . The Leopoldina first performed this duty in 2015 . The Leopoldina has chosen for the science academies to focus on the impact of climate change on polar regions and oceans as well as specific measures to accelerate the decarbonisation of the economy and energy systems . The other topics chosen are the development of antivirals for improved pandemic preparedness and global health challenges brought about by zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance . The joint statements will be prepared by members of the Leopoldina and internationally renowned experts before being finalised by the G7 academies at a working meeting on 4 and 5 April . The recommendations will be presented to the German government at the Science 7 Dialogue Forum in Berlin / Germany on 31 May and 1 June 2022 . ■ KK , CHW
G7 policy advice Science 7 Dialogue Forum