South Africa Hosts Historic Science20 Meeting to Address Global Challenges

South Africa is the first African country to host a Science20 meeting, addressing global challenges and focusing on Africa’s vulnerabilities. The forum, held from February 24 to 27, 2025, aims to produce science-driven recommendations for the G20 summit in September. Key figures stress the importance of adaptability and integrating global issues, while previous S20 recommendations need better follow-through.

South Africa has distinguished itself as the first African nation to host a Science20 (S20) meeting, bringing together national science academies from G20 countries. Scheduled from February 24 to 27, 2025, this year’s forum will address urgent global challenges, particularly those affecting Africa. Leaders from the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) have stressed the necessity of science-driven policy recommendations to tackle climate change, which will be unveiled during the September G20 summit.

ASSAf President Thokozani Majozi highlighted the critical nature of these discussions, asserting, “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.” He further remarked on the unpredictability of policy shifts, such as sudden cuts to foreign aid by the U.S. and the U.K., underscoring the importance of adaptability in crafting realistic solutions for various nations.

Francois Engelbrecht, Director of the Global Change Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand, emphasized that climate policies must align with the climate risks ascertained for different geographical regions in the G20. He stated, “The science of future climate change is strongly rooted in the laws of physics,” affirming confidence in climate model projections that indicate future risks.

ASSAf Executive Officer Himla Soodyall underscored the necessity of adopting an integrated approach to global challenges, advocating against viewing health, energy, water, and poverty in isolation. She explained that this holistic strategy would allow for the amalgamation of problems with potential solutions under a poly-crisis framework.

Reflecting on previous S20 meetings held in Brazil and India, Ms. Soodyall expressed concern regarding the insufficient implementation of earlier policy recommendations. To improve follow-through, she aims to embed past recommendations into ASSAf’s performance plans, aspiring for this year’s outcomes to foster tangible bilateral engagements and regional cooperation.

In summary, the S20 meeting in South Africa is crucial for articulating science-based policy recommendations aimed at addressing pressing global issues, particularly climate change. With a focus on adaptability and comprehensive solutions, the discussions will seek to forge significant connections between science and policymakers as the outcomes are prepared for presentation at the upcoming G20 summit.

In conclusion, the Science20 meeting hosted by South Africa signifies a critical step towards addressing urgent global challenges through science-driven policy recommendations. The emphasis on adaptability, integration of various global issues, and reflective learning from past S20 meetings aims to bolster meaningful collaboration among G20 nations. With the collective efforts of influential leaders in science and policy, tangible solutions to climate change and other pressing matters can be formulated and communicated effectively to policymakers.

Original Source: www.nature.com