Nzimande Calls for African-Led Research to Tackle Climate Challenges
Nzimande calls for African-led research to tackle climate challenges, highlighting the continent’s key role in global studies and the need for local schools to add to world knowledge. He stressed the push for work done by Africans on weather changes and ways to adapt, noting how important old Black universities are in Africa’s study plans. “I’m a very strong advocate for the deliberate development of the research capacity of our historically disadvantaged institutions, and for them to develop and be supported to be at the centre of knowledge production in our country and indeed globally,” he said. The Minister spoke at the 3rd International Conference on Earth and Environmental Sciences (ICEES 2025), a team-up between the University of Zululand and China’s Chang’an University on Monday.
Background to the Growing Climate Threats Facing Africa
Africa faces big weather problems that hurt its growth and people. The 2023 World Meteorological Organisation report shows countries lose 2% to 5% of their total money made each year because of these changes. Some places spend up to 9% of their budgets just to deal with them. The report warns that up to 118 million very poor people, living on less than US$1.9 a day, will face dry spells, floods, and very hot weather. These issues hit food, water, and health hard, making life tougher for many.
South Africa sees its own troubles, like bad storms that flood farms and hurt rural folks who depend on land for food. Nzimande pointed out events that damage crops and homes, leaving people without ways to earn. The “triple planetary crisis” of weather shifts, dirty air and water, and losing plants and animals needs fast, smart steps. “There is an unparalleled peak in climate-related crises, and no continent remains unaffected. We are increasingly witnessing life-threatening heatwaves, floods, disappearing species and the severe pressures on water as well as ecosystems,” he said. Without team work, future kids will face even worse times.
The ICEES 2025 conference brings experts from over 70 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Australia to share findings, problems, and fixes. It aims to start new work ties between schools and businesses. Keynote talks by top names like Professor Vetrimurugan Elumalai cover earth and nature studies, helping build skills and new ideas.
Key Points from Nzimande’s Speech on African Research Needs
Nzimande pushed for universities in Africa to make their own mark in world knowledge. “While we value collaboration. We do not want our historically disadvantaged universities to be comfortable with simply being consumers of knowledge that others produce. Universities on the African continent must make their own distinct contribution to the global knowledge project,” he said, calling for a strong Research and Development plan led by Africa.
He noted the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) has tools to help studies and build skills in many fields. “We have developed what we call a science mission. We’ve got a number of these science mission focus areas. We have developed one on global change and biodiversity science, because we firmly believe that this needs to be strengthened.” Programmes like the South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) watch nature changes over time with special systems. SAEON, part of the National Research Foundation, has spots across the country to track things like weather, plants, and water, helping make better choices.
The Alliance for Collaboration on Climate and Earth System Science (ACCESS) teams up groups like the CSIR and others to study weather and land changes. It helps with training and new ways to adapt. The Centre for Global Change works on lasting fixes for these issues. They also push an idea focused on weather changes and keeping nature safe.
Nzimande talked about the South African Research Infrastructure Roadmap, which has 13 big plans for tools and places to study. These include the National Equipment Programme, South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI), and Centres of Excellence (CoEs). South Africa joins world groups like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to share ideas and get help.
He shared news of the coming Global Change National Conference this year to build skills in weather changes and nature care. Nzimande urged young researchers to join in, saying student work is key for Africa’s future in studies. “grab this opportunity with both hands”, he said, seeing it as a smart spend on young minds.
More Details on the Conference and Its Global Reach
ICEES 2025 is the third meeting of its kind, hosted by the University of Zululand and Chang’an University from China. It lets people share their work, hard spots, and answers to build new ties for studies and business. Experts give main talks on earth and nature topics, drawing from around the world to help Africa lead in green fixes.
The meeting looks at urgent needs like losing plants and animals, dirty air, and weather hits on farms. It pushes for new ways to adapt, like better water use and safe land plans. With folks from many lands, it helps share knowledge and start team work that lasts.
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