South Africa will host the first Science20 meeting in Africa from February 24-27, 2025, focusing on urgent global challenges, particularly climate change. Leaders from ASSAf stressed the importance of science-based policy recommendations for the G20, with outcomes intended for the September summit. Key themes include adaptability and the interconnected nature of global issues, aiming to enhance collaboration and effective communication with policymakers.
South Africa has proudly become the inaugural African host of the Science20 (S20) meeting, a significant platform for national science academies from G20 nations. Scheduled for February 24-27, 2025, this year’s S20 focuses on pressing global challenges, particularly those impacting Africa. Attendees, including leaders from the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), underscored the immediate need to tackle climate change and the necessity for science-based policy advice directed at the G20.
The conclusions of this meeting will be publicly released in conjunction with the upcoming G20 summit in September. “The S20 deliberates on pertinent issues with the idea of sharing recommendations. But ultimately, these discussions must reach policymakers,” stated Thokozani Majozi, President of ASSAf, in comments to Nature Africa. “If the S20 does not succeed in articulating its position in a way that policymakers can understand and adopt, then, in my opinion, it would have failed.”
During discussions about the challenges posed by recent shifts in policy, such as the US government’s foreign aid funding freezes and the UK’s reduction in foreign aid for defense priorities, Majozi emphasized adaptability. “We should be alive to the fact that changes happen steeply at times, and we should be able to adapt,” he said.
Francois Engelbrecht, Director of the Global Change Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand and a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, highlighted the necessity for climate mitigation strategies to consider the distinct climate risks across the G20 regions. Engelbrecht remarked, “The science of future climate change is strongly rooted in the laws of physics. Increasingly, we have confidence in the projections that climate models generate, showing the risks we must face in the future.”
Himla Soodyall, Executive Officer of ASSAf, emphasized the vital need to recognize the interconnections of global challenges. She argued, “Instead of looking at health, energy, water, and poverty in silos, we must integrate them within the framework of a poly-crisis. This approach allows us to merge problems with mitigation actions in a meaningful way.”
Reflecting on prior S20 meetings held in Brazil (2024) and India (2023), Soodyall expressed concern over inadequate follow-up on previous policy suggestions. To bridge this gap, she has aimed to embed historical S20 recommendations within ASSAf’s operational strategies, aspiring to engender substantial progress in bilateral relations and regional cooperation. “We need to ensure our work doesn’t happen in isolation and that we ensure that S20 recommendations are effectively conveyed to G20 leaders,” she stressed.
In conclusion, the historic S20 meeting in South Africa marks a pivotal moment for global scientific collaboration, particularly in addressing climate change and interconnected global challenges. With key recommendations forthcoming for the G20 summit, it is essential that these insights are communicated effectively to influence policy. The emphasis on adaptability and integration in tackling diverse issues underlines the importance of collective efforts to create sustainable solutions.
Original Source: www.nature.com
