CO2 neutrality in Germany and China: Leopoldina and the Chinese Academy of Sciences announce second Science for Future conference

Meeting Announcement

LEOPOLDINA

The world’s major industrial countries must significantly reduce their carbon emissions in order to fulfil the terms of the Paris Climate Agreement, under which 196 parties committed to ensuring that average global temperatures do not increase by more than 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels. Germany and China still depend heavily on fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, and coal to meet their energy needs. However, both countries are developing strategies to achieve carbon neutrality within the next few decades. Successful implementation of these strategies requires further basic research and innovation. The German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have thus, in advance of the UN Climate Conference (COP 28) that begins tomorrow in Dubai, announced the second joint Science for Future conference in Berlin/Germany in autumn 2024. The conference will focus on basic research aimed at achieving climate neutrality.

China wants to hit peak carbon emissions by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. Germany wants to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. To achieve these goals, both countries must develop and expand renewable energies in all sectors. It is also vital to continue promoting research into energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, and carbon use and storage, as basic research makes an important contribution to the development of the technologies needed to advance these sectors.

CAS and the Leopoldina launched the Science for Future initiative in 2018 with the aim of highlighting the importance of basic research to society. The inaugural conference, under the heading “All Starts with Basic Research”, took place in Beijing in China in autumn 2019. The conference brought together internationally renowned established researchers and junior researchers. The next conference, scheduled for Berlin in October 2024, is headed “On the Path to Carbon Neutrality”. It will examine topics that are key to achieving climate neutrality, including CO2-neutral energy systems and technologies, the role of ecosystems as carbon sinks, global pricing mechanisms for carbon dioxide, a global carbon market, and international cooperation on energy and climate issues.

This second Science for Future conference will take place in Berlin on Tuesday, 29 October 2024 and on Wednesday, 30 October 2024: https://www.leopoldina.org/en/events/event/event/3129/

The joint announcement of the second Science for Future Conference by CAS and the Leopoldina is accessible via this link: https://www.leopoldina.org/science-for-future-conference-2024

The Leopoldina maintains close contact with the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The aim of the cooperation is to promote exchange between the two scientific communities, for example as part of joint expert symposiums. In addition, the Leopoldina and its Chinese partners are jointly involved in providing international policy advice, for example by helping to develop statements for the G20 summits.

The Leopoldina on X: www.twitter.com/leopoldina  

About the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
As the German National Academy of Sciences, the Leopoldina provides independent science-based policy advice on matters relevant to society. To this end, the Academy develops interdisciplinary statements based on scientific findings. In these publications, options for action are outlined; making decisions, however, is the responsibility of democratically legitimized politicians. The experts who prepare the statements work in a voluntary and unbiased manner. The Leopoldina represents the German scientific community in the international academy dialogue. This includes advising the annual summits of Heads of State and Government of the G7 and G20 countries. With around 1,700 members from more than 30 countries, the Leopoldina combines expertise from almost all research areas. Founded in 1652, it was appointed the National Academy of Sciences of Germany in 2008. The Leopoldina is committed to the common good.