South Africa Hosts Historic Science20 Meeting Addressing Global Challenges
South Africa has become the first African nation to host the Science20 meeting from February 24-27, 2025, addressing urgent global challenges and Africa’s vulnerabilities. Themes of climate change, adaptability in policy, and the integration of global issues were central to discussions. Leaders urged for scientifically-informed recommendations to reach policymakers effectively, to ensure impactful outcomes at the upcoming G20 summit.
South Africa has made history by being the first African nation to host a Science20 (S20) meeting, bringing together national science academies from G20 countries. Scheduled from February 24-27, 2025, this year’s discussions revolve around pressing global issues, particularly Africa’s environmental vulnerabilities. Leaders from the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) underscored the urgency of addressing climate change and emphasized the need for scientifically-informed policy recommendations aimed at the G20.
“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. “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.”
In light of recent policy shifts, including the United States’ foreign aid funding freezes and the UK’s cutbacks in foreign aid for defense expenditures, Majozi pointed out the necessity for adaptability in developing solutions suitable for various countries. He remarked, “We should be alive to the fact that changes happen steeply at times, and we should be able to adapt.”
Francois Engelbrecht, Director of the Global Change Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand and a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, emphasized the need for climate mitigation policies to reflect the risks associated with climate change in diverse regions. He mentioned, “The science of future climate change is strongly rooted in the laws of physics… showing the risks we must face in the future.”
Himla Soodyall, Executive Officer of ASSAf, highlighted the critical importance of recognizing the interconnected nature of global challenges. “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,” she explained.
Reflecting on the S20 meetings held in Brazil and India in previous years, Soodyall expressed concern about the insufficient follow-up on past policy recommendations. To address this issue, she has worked towards incorporating previous recommendations into ASSAf’s performance plans, with hopes that this year’s outcome will foster tangible progress in bilateral engagements and regional collaborations. “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 concluded.
The inaugural hosting of the Science20 meeting in South Africa marks a significant milestone for the continent in addressing global challenges. This forum highlights critical issues such as climate change, policy adaptability, and the importance of interconnected global challenges. The successful translation of recommendations into actionable policies will be vital for achieving meaningful outcomes and collaborations among the G20 nations.
Original Source: www.nature.com
