Rapid urbanisation, population growth, and increasingly scarce resources are some of the factors contributing to climate change globally. The impact of these aspects formed part of the discussions by a panel of experts at the fifth National Conference on Global Change (GCC5), held on the University of the Free State’s (UFS) main campus in Bloemfontein.
This was organised by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), in partnership with the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the UFS.
Held from 30 January to 2 February, various role players such as scientists, innovators, decision makers and government representatives put forward creative alternatives to address the impact of the aforementioned issues.
Alternatives include research and innovation relating to climate change and biodiversity, alternative energy, ocean monitoring and climate-smart agriculture. Participants shared information and held discussions, with local research development initiatives being implemented under the Global Change Grand Challenge as identified in the DSI’s ten-year innovation plan.
Imraan Patel, deputy director general for Socio-Economic Innovation Partnerships at the DSI, explained that the department’s commitment to research and innovation in the area of global change was inspired by a number of factors. These include the country’s scientific expertise, its size and variations, its wealth of biodiversity and its economic structure.
Patel delivered the speech on behalf of the minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Bonginkosi Nzimande.
“To take advantage of our unique features as a country will require to enhance our science capabilities and also make bold, but informed, decisions about our scientific and technological investments,” said Patel.
He stressed that while South Africa had some features that made it distinctive, the country was vulnerable to global challenges and the threats facing all of humanity.
Prof. Francis Petersen, rector and vice-chancellor of the UFS, pointed out that the impact of global change on vulnerable communities was far-reaching, adding that post-conference he was hoping for the stimulation of creativity and innovations to resonate with the conference theme “Research and innovation accelerating transformations to global sustainability”.
Petersen said that the challenges called for long-term initiatives and solutions.
“The effects of climate change on these rural communities include higher temperatures, extreme weather, droughts, floods, the depletion of water resources and biodiversity, soil erosion and decreased subsistence economies. So, human health and safety, food and water security, and socio-economic development will be impacted,” he said.
Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, an accomplished scholar interested in artificial intelligence and machine learning research, emphasised the importance of good leadership and education as the world embraces the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“As we learn to diversify and make our education more adaptable, we also need to understand that there is something about doing things together.
“A society that knows when to work individually and when to work collectively thrives,” stated Marwala.
