Scientific academies from the world's leading nations issued an unprecedented joint statement in June urging the leaders of their countries to commit to taking prompt action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The statement from Britain's Royal Society and the science academies of France, Russia, Germany, United States, Japan, Italy, and Canada was released ahead of a G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland. The academies of Brazil, China, and India, not members of G8, were also signatories.
"The scientific evidence forcefully points to a need for a truly international effort. Make no mistake, we have to act now," said Robert May, president of the Royal Society, in a statement. "And the longer we procrastinate, the more difficult the task of tackling climate change becomes."
May said that the current US policy on climate change was misguided. "Getting the United States onboard is critical because of the sheer amount of greenhouse gas ...
