"The world's richest countries and those that are developing fastest need to lead the transition to an energy-efficient and low-carbon economy to stave off the worst effects of climate change, science academies from these nations said on Thursday.

In a message to the Group of Eight industrialized nations, as well as leaders of fast-growing Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, the academies from these so-called G8+5 countries said that tackling this environmental challenge should be part of efforts to rebuild the global economy.

'The need to find solutions to climate change presents a huge but as yet unrealized opportunity for the creation of new jobs and for the stimulation of new and emerging markets,' the statement said.

Released in advance of the July 8-10 G8 meetings in Italy,, the statement offers goals that could be part of any final communique from this gathering, said Mike Clegg, foreign secretary of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences."

Deborah Zabarenko reports for Reuters June 12, 2009. [2]