News | Monday, 8 June 2015
National Academy Leopoldina welcomes the science-related outcomes at the G7 summit
The heads of state of the G7 countries. Image: German Federal Government/Kugler
The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina is gratified that the G7 Heads of Government and the EU Representatives turned their focus to health and the environmental issues at their summit in Schloss Elmau and that the topics of antibiotic resistances and neglected tropical diseases have been comprehensively incorporated into the final declaration. In the run-up to the summit, the Leopoldina in cooperation with the other science academies of the G7 member states drafted three joint recommendations that were subsequently delivered to German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the end of April. The recommendations included greater international involvement in the fight against tropical diseases like ebola as well as a call to action against the growing threat that infectious diseases and antibiotic resistant pathogens represent to the global population. A third statement was devoted to the protection of the oceans.
“We are exceedingly pleased that the Heads of Government at the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau have taken up the recommendations submitted by the G7 science academies”, commented Professor Jörg Hacker, President of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. “The results of the summit confirm that antibiotic resistances and neglected tropical diseases are being taken very seriously. The leaders of the G7 member states are committed to intensifying research activities in order to meet this challenge,” added Hacker. With respect to neglected tropical diseases, the academies were accorded a role in determining the areas of greatest need. Beyond that, it is also gratifying to see that the third issue brought up by the G7 academies, namely protection of the marine environment, was also referenced in the final declaration and that the leaders of the G7 member states affirmed that the pollution of the seas represents a global challenge.
Further Information
Policy Advice by the G7 Academies
