South Africa hosts the first S20 meeting in Africa, focusing on urgent global challenges like climate change. The event, scheduled for February 2025, aims to produce actionable recommendations for the G20 summit. Key figures stress the need for effective communication with policymakers and an integrated approach to global challenges.
South Africa has made history by becoming the first African country to host a Science20 (S20) meeting, a vital forum comprised of national science academies from G20 nations. Scheduled for February 24-27, 2025, this year’s focus is on urgent global challenges, particularly Africa’s vulnerabilities to climate change. Leaders from the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) highlighted the importance of science-driven policy recommendations designed for the G20.
The outcomes of the S20 meeting will be publicized in time for the September G20 summit. “The S20 deliberates on pertinent issues with the idea of sharing recommendations. But ultimately, these discussions must reach policymakers,” stated Thokozani Majozi, ASSAf president. He emphasized that without effective communication to policymakers, the S20’s efforts could be deemed unsuccessful.
During the discussions, Majozi addressed the challenges posed by fluctuating policies, such as the US’s aid freezes and the UK’s funding changes favoring defense. He noted that adaptability is crucial for developing solutions that accommodate the unique circumstances of different nations.
Francois Engelbrecht from the Global Change Institute emphasized that climate mitigation policies must align with the distinct climate risks of the G20 regions. He remarked, “The science of future climate change is strongly rooted in the laws of physics,” underscoring the reliability of climate model projections.
Himla Soodyall urged delegates to understand the interconnectedness of global issues, advocating for an integrated approach instead of isolated perspectives on health, energy, water, and poverty. She noted that approaching these challenges through a poly-crisis framework enables more meaningful mitigation actions.
Reflecting on previous S20 sessions in Brazil (2024) and India (2023), Soodyall expressed concern regarding the lack of follow-through on past recommendations. To ensure progress, ASSAf plans to incorporate these past recommendations into their strategic performance plans, aiming for actionable outcomes this year.
South Africa’s hosting of the S20 meeting marks a significant step towards addressing urgent global issues through science-driven policies. The discussions aim to create actionable recommendations that could influence G20 decisions. Key stakeholders emphasize the need for adaptability, interconnectedness in tackling complex challenges, and the importance of ensuring that past recommendations are not overlooked in future engagements.
Original Source: www.nature.com
