Programme Director, Dr Therina Theron, Senior Director, Research and Innovation;
Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, Prof Wim de Villiers;
Professor Eugene Cloete, the DVC Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies
Prof Guy Midgley;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen:
Thank you for the invitation to come and address you on this important occasion-the official launch of the School of Climate Studies.
There is no doubt that natural climate variability and human caused climate change are interacting to pose significant social and economic challenges even for the richest and most developed nations on earth.
There is general agreement that in southern Africa, we urgently need expertise, knowledge and innovation to better understand and adapt to the complex results of worsening climate events.
This knowledge is also needed to support our negotiators in international multilateral conventions to ensure that our interests are well represented and supported by a credible evidence base.
As you may be aware, the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), emphasised the need for a new generation of scientists, who are not only experts in their fields, but also able to think across multiple disciplines, in order to identify synergies and innovate solutions to climate challenges.
Ladies and gentlemen, we now know with greater clarity that our economies and ecological systems are increasingly co-dependent and interacting and that, human ingenuity is infinite but natural resources are finite.
Therefore, human ingenuity is needed more than ever to allow for vibrant human societies that can develop sustainably within a finite resource landscape. In this respect, the university environment is a space where new synergies between technology and fundamental science can be explored safely and creatively, and translated from theory into practical implementation.
These efforts are what will create new areas of sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth for South Africa and the region as a whole. Additional to this, we also see this school adding to the existing excellence and pool of training centres for what is increasingly becoming a topical subject – climate change, and the negative impacts it has on economy and society.
Focused studies in climate is a positive step towards giving special attention to climate change – a move from dealing with this subject under the traditional umbrella of environmental studies or science. The direct benefits of this focused approach is potential new knowledge generation, new generation of well-trained climate scientists and students, as well as increased research outputs, including scientific evidence to support policy development, planning and general decision-making.
Because of its location at the southern tip of Africa and being surrounded by three oceans that influence the southern African climate system, South Africa is a preferred destination for international climate related research and well positioned to lead such research efforts.
In the last decade, we have seen a steady increase of South African scientists participating in strategic international climate related research programmes and conventions. These include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Technical Working Groups.
It also includes subsidiary bodies such as the body on Scientific and Technological Advance (SBSTA), the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES), and the Group on Earth Observations – Biodiversity Observation Network (GEOBON).
This does not only confirm South Africa’s high ranking globally, in terms of research outputs, but also suggests that South Africa contributes significantly to strategic global science programmes.
Furthermore, we see our recently established Presidential Commission on Climate Change (PCCC) and national COVID-19 coordination, benefiting greatly from the wealth of data and scientific evidence coming from an increased pool of institutions undertaking climate research and studies, and its actions and decisions will be a sound scientific base.
From a policy point of view, our Global Change Grand Challenge (GGGC) under the DSI’s the Ten Year Innovation Plan (TYIP), has a strong focus on climate change based on IPCC vulnerability indices which show southern Africa is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change and variability.
In our view therefore, the school we are launching today will give impetus to this focus on climate change and increase landscape of institutions providing such specialised training and capabilities which the country needs to deal with negative impacts of climate change and develop necessary adaptation mechanisms.
As you can imagine, the development of appropriate skills is key to our country’s climate change response measures and is in line with the key objectives of among others, our National Climate Change Response Policy, our New White Paper on Science, Technology and Innovation, which I referred to earlier.
The focus on skills development is also linked to one of our key national strategic goals as articulated in our National Development Plan, that of the need for South Africa to become a responsive and capable developmental state.
We also see the skill sets that will be developed at this school as increasing the overall pool of climate scientists and practitioners. One of the key aspects of climate training, which is likely to be part the school’s modules, is the ability to model and predict weather and climate patterns and be able to develop projections and advanced warnings.
As you know, areas such as climate projection require predictive tools, mainly mathematic algorithms, and adaptation of such tools for local conditions. Other sectors that are likely to benefit from improved climate understanding and impacts thereof, include housing, water and infrastructure for basic services.
These, ladies and gentlemen, are just some of the many short and long terms benefits that we think our country will derive from this school.
In conclusion, the launch of this school underscores the importance of understanding the environmental as well as socio-economic impacts of climate change, variability and adequately equipping the country to effectively respond to the challenges posed by these phenomena.
Related to this, is the fact that South Africa stands to benefit intellectually from expanded climate knowledge base, with more institutions offering specialised climate studies. As stated, the other benefit is that South Africa will be empowered to play a more increased role in global initiatives, including negotiations at conventions and treaties.
As a country, we are likely to see improved decision-making and planning as a result of more institutions providing training and academic qualifications in climate related studies. These biggest beneficiaries in this regard, include national government and its entities, municipalities, farmers, health practitioners, private sector, and civil society organisations.
Ladies and gentlemen, there is therefore no doubt that this school constitutes a first on the African continent and we are confident that it will produce ground-breaking insights.
Congratulations to Stellenbosch University on this visionary step. It is now my singular honour to officially declare the School of Climate Studies open.
Thank you.
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