South Africa Hosts Groundbreaking Science20 Meeting Addressing Global Challenges

South Africa is set to host the inaugural Science20 meeting in Africa from 24-27 February 2025. The forum will focus on urgent global challenges, particularly climate change, and aims to provide actionable recommendations for G20 policymakers. Influential voices from ASSAf highlighted the significance of adaptability in science-driven solutions and the interconnectedness of global issues. Outcomes from the meeting will be presented at the September G20 summit.

South Africa has achieved a historic milestone by being the first African nation to host a Science20 (S20) meeting, which brings together national science academies from G20 countries. Scheduled from 24-27 February 2025, this year’s S20 will address pressing global challenges, particularly focusing on Africa’s vulnerabilities. Leaders from the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) stressed the urgency of confronting climate change and the necessity of formulating science-driven policy recommendations for the G20.

These recommendations are set to be unveiled at the upcoming G20 summit in September. Thokozani Majozi, the President of ASSAf, asserted the significance of ensuring that S20 discussions translate into actionable insights for policymakers. “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 stated.

Addressing recent uncertainties linked to policy changes, such as the US government’s abrupt funding freezes and the UK’s redirection of foreign aid, Majozi emphasized the need for adaptability in crafting solutions suitable for various nations.

Francois Engelbrecht, the Director of the Global Change Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand and a contributor to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, outlined the necessity for climate mitigation policies to consider the unique risks associated with the diverse regions represented in the G20. He remarked, “The science of future climate change is strongly rooted in the laws of physics,” affirming confidence in climate models’ projections of future risks.

Himla Soodyall, the Executive Officer at ASSAf, advocated for recognizing the interconnectedness of global challenges, urging integration of health, energy, water, and poverty within the context of a poly-crisis. She noted, “This approach allows us to merge problems with mitigation actions in a meaningful way.”

Reflecting on past S20 meetings in Brazil (2024) and India (2023), Soodyall expressed concerns regarding the inadequacies in following up on prior policy suggestions. She highlights having incorporated past recommendations into ASSAf’s performance strategies and expresses hope that this year’s outcomes will foster genuine momentum for both bilateral engagements and regional collaborations.

Soodyall concluded by emphasizing the need to ensure that the outcomes of their work are not isolated and that the S20’s recommendations are effectively communicated to G20 leaders.

The Science20 meeting in South Africa marks a significant step forward for African nations in global scientific dialogue. By focusing on climate change and policy recommendations, the S20 aims to create actionable insights for G20 leaders. The emphasis on adaptiveness and interconnected solutions highlights the critical need for collaboration to address pressing global challenges. This gathering seeks to ensure that scientific recommendations translate into effective policies that can lead to substantial progress.

Original Source: www.nature.com