Science Academies “S7” Statements Call on Governments to Protect the Arctic, Manage Large Satellite Constellations, and Advance Brain Health

WASHINGTON — Today the science academies of the G7 countries released three joint “S7” statements  to inform discussions during the G7 summit to be held in Evian, France, in June, as well as to offer science-informed guidance for ongoing policymaking.

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences joined academies from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom in issuing the statements.

“Science is truly a global endeavor, and our Academies are committed to working together to help address these challenges our nations share with evidence-based advice and guidance,” said National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt.

Drawn up by the academies under the aegis of the French Academy of sciences, the statements provide a concise analysis of the current scientific evidence and recommendations to their governments related to:

The global Arctic. Over the last 40 years, warming in the Arctic has occurred nearly four times faster than the global average, making the region a hotspot of global change. These rapid changes are reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, climate feedbacks, and the ways of life of Arctic societies. The consequences extend far beyond the region, with implications for climate stability, sea-level rise, biodiversity, and weather patterns across the entire world.

The statement calls for urgent, internationally coordinated action to safeguard the Arctic and to protect against the cascade of possible global effects. Priority actions include mitigating Arctic and global change by immediately reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with national priorities; strengthening international scientific cooperation through open data and sustained observation networks; advancing science-based adaptation; deepening research on tipping elements and systemic Arctic risks; and ensuring that Indigenous and local knowledge and leaders are engaged in international governance and environmental decision-making.

Large satellite constellations. Tens of thousands of satellites are being deployed in low-Earth orbits and medium-Earth orbits to deliver global broadband access and real-time Earth observation. These advances promise transformative benefits for society, but they also pose unprecedented challenges and risks that need to be mitigated in the short term. For example, the growing density of spacecraft is increasing the risk of collisions and debris generation, potentially rendering key orbital regions unusable, and the rising rate of rocket launches increases the risks of debris surviving re-entry and potentially causing injuries or damage to air traffic or on the ground.

Sharing best practices and coordinating international action are essential to secure the benefits of this revolution while safeguarding its future, the statement says. Priority steps include strengthening research and development on non-terrestrial networks and improving space traffic management and enforcing de-orbiting and debris-mitigation standards. Actions should also be taken to protect astronomical observations through design innovation and regulation.  Steps already underway for addressing these issues should be promoted and consolidated in an international treaty.

Brain health. Brain disorders affect one in three people and are leading causes of disability and death worldwide, a burden that rises rapidly with population aging. But breakthroughs in neuroscience, technology, and AI are creating unprecedented opportunities for research and innovation aimed at brain health.

Photo courtesy of Académie des sciences/Mathieu Baumer

The statement urges G7 leaders to make brain health a cross-cutting priority across agendas and to establish a standing G7 Brain Health Advisory council to guide policy, track progress, and ensure ethical oversight. Other recommended actions include issuing a G7 Call to Investment and Innovation in Brain Health to mobilize public-private resources and promoting a holistic lifespan approach to brain and mental health through integrative policies and cross-disciplinary research.

The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, engineering, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.

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