世界12個主要工業國的國家科學院14日聯合敦促各國領袖，下個月於俄羅斯展開之能源安全商談期間，不應忽視去年正值英國為G8輪值主席國時所立下抑制氣候變遷之誓言。八大工業國以及中國、巴西、印度與南非等12國科學院發佈一項共同宣言，警示「關於能源之永續性與安全最令人憂心的癥結」。
國家科學院指出最大的困境在於，氣候變遷導致石油和天然氣價格大漲並且大幅波動、發展中國家的能源使用效率不彰與浪費、以及能源生產國和需油國之間的地理空間錯置。他們警告如不妥善處理將會引致經濟、社會和環境上錯縱複雜的問題。
共同宣言簽署人之一，英國皇家科學院主席瑞斯（Martin Rees）認為：「身為本屆G8輪值主席，俄國將能源安全視為首要問題，由於氣候變遷造成的全球性威脅所涉及的範圍極其廣泛，和其它諸如環境、社會和經濟問題的關注是同等地重要。」
國家科學院表示，在聯合宣言中提及深獲廣大國際輿論認同，彼此互有關連的永續發展三個面向－經濟繁榮、社會發展以及環境保護。
達成這三個目標的首要條件是提供世界上所有國家永續且可靠的能源供應，國家科學院補充說明，「如果能源的永續供應和安全性失敗的話，那麼主要的發展目標將無法達成。」
能源安全和供應問題是G8主席俄國所擬定的首要議題。俄國在過去五年中的經濟成長主要來自於能源的出口，在這段期間內，假使俄國石油的產量增加，相對地全世界的油價也會跟著水漲船高。
瑞斯指出：「G8工業國作為全世界能源需求最迫切的國家，它肩負著一項特別的任務，即負責促進經濟、環境與社會上的乾淨能源革命並確保這項使命持續發光發熱。」
The pledge by world leaders to curb climate change, made during the UK's presidency of the G8 last year, must not be ignored during energy security talks at next month G8 Summit in Russia, the science academies of 12 mayor industrial nations urged today. The academies of the G8 nations, along with China, Brazil, India and South Africa, published a joint statement warming of "very serious difficulties related to sustainability and security of energy."
Climate change, sharply rising and fluctuating oil and gas prices, providing fuels to the developing world, inefficient and wasteful use of energy, and a geographical mismatch between energy sources and users are the primary difficulties cited by the science academies. They warned of economic, social and environmental ramifications if these issues are not addressed.
Martin Rees, president of the Royal Society, the UK national academy of science, and one of the statement’s signatories said, “Russia has highlighted energy security as a key issue for its presidency of the G8 and it is vital that this is considered in the broader context of the global threat of climate change as well as other environmental, social and economic concerns.
The academies said in their joint statement that there are three inter-related components of sustainable development recognized by a broad international consensus - economic prosperity, social development, and environmental protection.
Sustainable and reliable supply of energy is one of the major conditions for achieving these three goals, for all countries of the world, the academies said, adding, "if energy sustainability and security fail, the primary human development goals cannot be achieved."
Energy security and supply is an overarching theme of Russia's G8 presidency. Russia’s economic growth over the past five years has been fueled primarily by energy exports, given the increase in Russian oil production and relatively high world oil prices during the period.
As some of the most intensive users of energy in the world, Rees said, "the G8 nations bear a special responsibility to help stimulate the clean energy revolution that will deliver economically, environmentally and socially while ensuring the lights stay on."
