In the age of global warming, pandemics and East-West tensions, the time for science diplomacy has come. Science can learn from diplomacy tactful communication in a culture of acceptance and embracement of different viewpoints; while soft diplomacy can benefit from the precision of scientific facts and rational argumentation. To this day, the concept of science diplomacy has never been quantified to highlight the importance and potential of specific countries around the globe to engage in science diplomacy. The paper is based on the hypothesis that scientifically-skilled and academically-equipped nations with rising economic prospects due to changing temperatures under global warming have favorable conditions and a heightened responsibility to act on climate change with science diplomacy.
In the first macroeconomic model of science diplomacy, an index was created including 51 countries around the world ranked on their potential to be spearheading science diplomacy. The presented Science Diplomacy Index integrates (1) the academia quota per country as an indication of scientific excellence based on World Bank Educational Attainment data of at least Bachelor’s or equivalent education in the population of a country from 25 years of age as cumulative percent in the population; (2) a modified World Ranking of academic institutions based on the Web of Universities data weighted by the relevance of its academic institutions; and (3) the Lowy Global Diplomacy Index measuring diplomatic relations in embassies, consulates, or other diplomatic representations. The index is then applied to a macroeconomic model on disparate economic impacts of climate change around the world and country-specific CO2 emission levels, in order to determine what countries have excellent starting grounds but also a heightened responsibility to engage in science diplomacy to reverse the negative impacts of global warming. The results offer invaluable yet quantified information on the importance of science diplomacy in the 21st century.