Before each G8 summit, the G8 members’ national academies look at urgent issues relating to the summit agenda that also carry wider implications and require a multi-lateral approach. For example, at the 2007 G8 summit in Heiligendamm, the national academies led by the Leopoldina presented recommendations on sustainability, energy efficiency and climate protection as advise for the policy-making process.

The academies’ recommendations are published prior to each summit and feed into each country’s political proceedings. Increasing global interdependence has led to more countries being invited to these summits and this has also been reflected by the range of academies involved. In 2011, the South African, Brazilian, Indian, Mexican and Senegalese academies joined the G8 member academies of Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Japan, Canada, Russia and the US to present recommendations on the topics of water and health, and education.