Academies’ recommendations to G20 leaders to increase preparedness for future global pandemics and to consider the impacts of crises on societies, from an economic, societal, legal and cultural perspective

Academies from the G20 countries have signed two joint statements on pressing global issues to be addressed. The statements entitled Pandemic preparedness and the role of science and Crises: economy, society, law, and culture. Towards a less vulnerable humankind will be delivered to the G20 Heads of State and Government.

Since 2017 Science20 (S20) brings together the national academies of science of the G20 countries. In 2021 - under the Italian G20 Presidency - the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei will host the S20 meeting and, for the first time, will also hold a social sciences and humanities (SSH20) meeting.

The two joint statements - S20 statement on Pandemic preparedness and the role of science and SSH20 statement on Crises: economy, society, law, and culture. Towards a less vulnerable humankind - have been developed by two Lincei working groups (respectively chaired by Prof. Giorgio Parisi and Prof. Roberto Antonelli) and all the partner academies.

The statement on Pandemic preparedness and the role of science addresses the following issues: lessons from Covid-19 and previous pandemics; lessons on pandemic prevention and early detection; lessons on interventions; proposal of actions (general actions; specific actions to improve prevention and early detection; specific actions to improve the control of new pandemic diseases); the need for an International Agreement on Pandemic Preparedness and Management.

The statement on Crises: economy, society, law, and culture. Towards a less vulnerable humankind addresses the following topic: global challenges and opportunities from crises; fragilities and resilience: towards a less vulnerable humankind; action map: global coordination for systemic crises; education and research; cultural heritage; social policy and legal harmonisation; economic actions.

The S20+SSH20 Academic Summit will be hosted by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in Rome on 22-23 September 2021. During the event the Joint Statements will be officially presented to the Italian Government.