Brain Health
Neurological and mental disorders affect almost one in three people over the course of their lives. The economic impact is considerable, with global costs estimated at five trillion US dollars per year. The G7 academies therefore recommend treating brain health as an important issue throughout the life course — from early childhood to old age — and addressing it not only within health policy, but as a cross-cutting policy priority. To this end, they recommend establishing a “Brain Health Advisory Council” at G7 level — an advisory body that could formulate science-based guidance for policy measures, identify emerging innovations and ensure ethical oversight. To accelerate both scientific and clinical advances in brain research, the G7 countries are called upon to launch an investment and innovation initiative to secure funding from public resources and private capital. Medical progress will also depend on harnessing the potential of large datasets, artificial intelligence, advanced imaging and genomics. As neurological and mental disorders pose a particular challenge for low- and middle-income countries, the recommended initiatives should also be designed to extend beyond the G7. G7 Statement “Advancing Brain Health (including Mental Health)” (2026)
The Arctic as an Early Warning System
Over the past 40 years, the Arctic has warmed almost four times faster than the global average. The consequences are visible locally: sea ice and glaciers are retreating, permafrost is thawing, coastlines are eroding, wildfires are increasing and ecosystems are changing. However, these changes are not confined to the region. Thawing permafrost can release large quantities of carbon dioxide and methane. The melting of the Greenland ice sheet contributes to sea-level rise. Changes in the Arctic can also affect ocean currents, weather patterns and ecosystems far beyond the region itself. The statement therefore describes the Arctic as an early warning system. The G7 academies call on the G7 countries to uphold the Paris Agreement and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions rapidly and sustainably. They are also proposing a moratorium on geoengineering in the Arctic. At the same time, international and interdisciplinary research cooperation on Arctic change should be strengthened, and Indigenous and local knowledge should be incorporated. G7 Statement “The Global Arctic” (2026)
Large Satellite Constellations
An increasing number of satellites are being launched into low- and medium-Earth orbits. Large satellite constellations can improve internet access worldwide, enable communication in remote regions and support near-real-time Earth observation. At the same time, they pose risks: the growing number of satellites increases the danger of collisions and space debris. It also remains unclear to what extent the upper atmosphere is being affected by chemicals and dust particulates resulting from frequent rocket launches and the re-entry of satellites and rocket stages. The G7 academies recommend supporting research into the effects of space activities on the atmosphere and into the development of satellite-based communication networks, while also establishing clear rules for their sustainable use. These should include binding standards for “de-orbiting”, meaning the removal of defunct satellites from orbit, improved systems for monitoring the use of Earth’s orbital environment, and robust assessments of how many objects particular orbits can safely accommodate over the long term. G7 Statement “Large Satellite Constellations” (2026)
Caption: From left to right: Stéphanie Debette, Director General of the Institut du Cerveau – Paris Brain Institute and member of the Académie des sciences, Mark Walport, Vice-President of the Royal Society, Maria Cristina Marcuzzo, Head of International Affairs at the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, Laurent Bopp, CNRS Research Director and member of the Académie des sciences, Françoise Baylis, President of the Royal Society of Canada, Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, Marcia McNutt, President of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Bettina Rockenbach, President of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Françoise Combes, President of the Académie des sciences, Francis-André Wollman, Vice-President for International Relations of the Académie des sciences, François Baccelli, Emeritus Research Director at Inria, Mamoru Mitsuishi, President of the Science Council of Japan
Leopoldina at the Science7 Summit in Paris
In preparation for this year’s G7 Summit, the science academies of the G7 countries met in Paris to discuss the promotion of brain health and mental health, the growing number of satellites in Earth orbit, and climatic changes in the Arctic. The event concluded with the presentation of three joint statements, drafted in advance by the G7 academies, to French President Emmanuel Macron.
The Science7 Summit was opened, among others, by the French Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, Philippe Baptiste, and by Matthias Oel, Head of Directorate-General I “International and European Affairs” at the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Representing the Leopoldina at the summit were President Bettina Rockenbach, Ruth Narmann, Head of the International Relations Department, and geophysicist and Leopoldina member Karl-Heinz Glaßmeier.
The Science7 Summit also serves as a forum for exchanging views on ongoing activities in the three specific thematic areas. At the summit, Leopoldina President Bettina Rockenbach reported on the Leopoldina’s activities relating to brain health. Only a few weeks ago, together with the Union of the German Academies of Sciences and Humanities and acatech, the Leopoldina published a statement on data-driven dementia prevention. Last year, it also published the discussion paper Social Media and the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents. In addition, in September the Leopoldina will jointly organise a workshop with the Academy of Science of South Africa on the link between climate change and mental health.
Karl-Heinz Glaßmeier is a professor at TU Braunschweig and an expert on the topic “Large Satellite Constellations: Perspectives and Challenges”. In this context, he presented at the conference the new Leopoldina working group “Effects of Spaceflight on the Atmosphere”, of which he is co-spokesperson. The working group is examining the scientific foundations and possibilities for sustainable spaceflight.
Furthermore, building on the publication of the Ottawa Declaration last year, the G7 academies in Paris are discussing how academic freedom can be safeguarded and how international scientific cooperation can be strengthened even in geopolitically challenging times.
Science 7
The advisory role of the national science academies of the participating states in relation to the G7 Summit is an important instrument for bringing scientific expertise into political decision-making processes. To this end, the academies work together in the Science7 (S7) format. The joint recommendations developed in this framework are published ahead of the summits and presented to the respective G7 presidency during a scientific conference.
