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State of the Global Change Grand Challenge. Report to the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology 15 September 2010. Last time we had the privilege of presenting to the Portfolio almost a year to the date – 16 September 2009. Structure of the presentation. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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State of the Global Change Grand Challenge
Report to the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology
15 September 2010
Last time we had the privilege of presenting to the Portfolio almost a year to the date –
16 September 2009
Structure of the presentation
• Quick re-cap on the Grand Challenge – what we plan to achieve,
– impact measures,
– priority initiatives
• Progress to date
• Plans for the next 12 months– Human Capital Development
– Key Research programmes
– Risk and Vulnerability Atlas
Design drivers
The form, shape, and structure of the Global Change Grand Challenge is a South African project that must support science and technology as well as key social, economic development, and environmental management objectives
Global Change Grand
ChallengeNational
Sustainable Development Framework,
2008
Climate Change Response
Strategy, 2004 and current
Research and Development
Strategy, 2002
White Paper on Science and Technology,
1996
National Industrial Policy
Framework, 2007
Sectoral Policies (water,
agriculture, etc.)
Primary Impact Measures
• Extent to which scientific understanding of global change has improved as a result of South African research efforts
• Extent to which South Africa contributes to the development and deployment of innovative technologies that support appropriate responses to the negative impacts of environmental changes, particularly climate change
• Extent to which decision-makers have used improved scientific understanding and technological development to achieve sustainable development goals in South Africa and Africa
Scorecard
• Four key dimensions– Human capital development and
transformation– Development of knowledge and research
assets– Impact on policy, social, and economic
development– Growing South Africa as a science destination
A
Understanding a changing planet
B
Reducing the human footprint
C
Adapting the way we live
D
Innovation for sustainability
1. Observation and monitoring
2. Dynamics of the oceans around southern Africa
3. Dynamics of the complex internal earth systems
4. Linking the land, air and sea
5. Improving model predictions at different scales
1. Waste minimisation methods and technologies
2. Conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services
3. Institutional integration to manage ecosystems and ecosystem services
4. Doing more with less
1. Preparing for rapid change and extreme events
2. Planning for sustainable urban development in a South African context
3. Water security for South Africa
4. Food and fibre security for South Africa
1. Dynamics of transition at different scales - mechanisms of innovation and learning
2. Resilience and capability
3. Options for greening the developmental state
4. Technological innovation for sustainable social-ecological systems.
5. Social Learning for sustainability, adaptation, innovation and resilience.
Centre of Excellence
Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Studies
(ACCESS)
Global Change,
Society, and Sustainability
South African Environmental
Observation Network (SAEON)
Africa Earth Observation
Network (AEON) programmes
Inkaba ye Africa/ Ikhure Africa
Space Agency (Global Change
Monitoring Network)
South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (R&V Atlas)
SA Polar Research
Entity
Bureau on Global Change Science
Global Change Performance and Investment Council
Knowledge Brokering
Support Unit
Mitigation and adaptation technologies
• Technologies for environmental monitoring and observation
• Waste management and minimisation industry
• Water sector
• Food and fibre-related technologies
• Technologies to support resilience in the built environment
Notable Progress
• Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems (ACCESS) in place
• AEON-related programmes continue to deliver, particularly new human capital
• Development of the electronic Risk and Vulnerability Atlas portal
• Call issued for the establishment of Risk and Vulnerability Service Centres at rural universities
• Planning for new integrated Masters programme/s
Key priorities – 2010/ 11
• Bureau for Global Change Science• Risk and Vulnerability Atlas and Service Centres• HCD interventions• Initiation of research programme on ‘Global
Change, Society, and Sustainability’• International partnerships• Technology development roadmaps• Africa partnership
Atlas – Phases 1 & 2
• Phase 1 – Theme pages within electronic spatial portal and hard copy Atlas
• Phase 2 – Theme pages populated &
maintained– Ensure that the portal is usable– Orientation & stakeholder outreach– Tracking use (feedbacks to
usability)
Theme page structure
Themes represent a point of entry for users of the Atlas interested in particular sectors and/or subjects. Information, data and cited studies may further appear on more than one theme page, indicating the cross-sectoral nature of particular issues in South Africa.
Pages & timeframe
1. Socio-economic (Phase 1)2. Atmospheric/climate (Phase 1) 3. Disaster Management (interoperability with NDMC system) (2011-12)4. Agriculture (2010-11)5. Forestry (2011-12)6. Water (surface & ground) (2010-11)7. Health (2011-12) 8. Air quality/Emissions (2010-11)9. Human Settlements (2010-11)10.Biodiversity (terrestrial & freshwater) (2010-11)11.Coastal/marine (2010-11)
Component 1:High resolution weather forecasting(1-10 days)
Weather & ClimateAtmospheric Modelling Strategic Initiative
(AMSI)
Component 2:Long-range forecasting(weeks to months)
Component 3:Climate Change projections (including Climate Systems Analysis Group, UCT)
Component 4:Model Development
SEAMLESS FORECASTING: Using common forecast systems to predict for multiple time scales
Operational Forecasting
Climate Change Strategic Initiative – modelled impacts on key sectors + adaptation support
R&V Service Centres
• Targeted at rural universities
• Two complementary objectives– Capacity development– Decision support
• Maximum of 5 Centres to be established over the next 18-24 months
Bureau – enhancing science-policy links
Challenge 1:-Science being generated does not meet the needs of policy-makers
Challenge 2:-The work of
researchers are not effectively
informing policy decision
Bureau for Global Change Research
- Committee made up of an equal mix of policy-makers and researchers
- Specific focus is on complex systems and inter-disciplinary knowledge
- Engage with the current science of how this can be better integrated into policy
- Identify specific research priorities to be funded as part of the global change grand challenge
- Feed into national planning and sectoral planning process
Human Capital Development
• Fully aligned with long-term environmental skills development process led by the Department of Environmental Affairs
• Flagship – new innovative multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary programmes (mainly at Masters level)
• Close engagement with business and government who will be the eventual employers of
• Targeted research chairs and other HCD support initiatives
International and African Partnerships
• Strong portfolio of international partnerships– Need to be refined, improved and targeted to our
objectives
• SADC-level process– Process has started to developed a SADC-wide
science and technology plan to support climate change
– Four focus areas – mitigation, adaptation, risk and vulnerability and data and observation
Thank You