Transcript State of the Global Change Grand Challenge

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
White Paper on
Science and
Technology,
1996
Climate Change
Response
Strategy, 2004
and current
National
Industrial Policy
Framework,
2007
Global
Change
Grand
Challenge
Sectoral Policies
(water,
agriculture, etc.)
Research and
Development
Strategy, 2002
National
Sustainable
Development
Framework,
2008
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
B
C
D
Understanding a
changing planet
Reducing the
human footprint
Adapting the way
we live
Innovation for
sustainability
1. Preparing for rapid
change and extreme
events
1. Dynamics of transition
at different scales mechanisms of
innovation and learning
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
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
2. Resilience and
capability
3. Options for greening
the developmental
state
4. Technological
innovation for
sustainable socialecological systems.
5. Social Learning for
sustainability,
adaptation, innovation
and resilience.
Global Change Performance and Investment Council
South African
Environmental
Observation Network
(SAEON)
Space Agency
(Global Change
Monitoring
Network)
SA Polar
Research
Entity
Knowledge
Brokering
Support Unit
Centre of Excellence
Africa Earth
Observation
Network (AEON)
programmes
Inkaba ye Africa/
Ikhure Africa
Applied Centre for
Climate and Earth
Systems Studies
(ACCESS)
Global
Change,
Society, and
Sustainability
South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (R&V Atlas)
Bureau on Global Change Science
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)
Weather & Climate
Atmospheric Modelling Strategic Initiative
(AMSI)
Component
1:
High
resolution
weather
forecasting
Component
2:
Long-range
forecasting
(weeks to
months)
(1-10 days)
Component
3:
Climate
Change
projections
(including
Climate Systems
Analysis Group,
UCT)
Component
4:
Model
Development
Operational Forecasting
SEAMLESS FORECASTING: Using common forecast
systems to predict for multiple time scales
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
Bureau for
Global Change Research
Challenge 2:The work of
researchers are not
effectively
informing policy
decision
- Committee made up of an equal mix of policymakers 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
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