1. State of the Global Change Grand Challenge
Report to the Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology
15 September 2010

2. Last time we had the privilege of presenting to the Portfolio almost a year to the date – 16 September 2009

3. 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

4. Global Change Grand Challenge
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 Challenge
National 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.)

5. 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

6. 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

7. Understanding a changing planet B Reducing the human footprint C
Adapting the way we live D
Innovation for sustainability
Observation and monitoring
Dynamics of the oceans around southern Africa
Dynamics of the complex internal earth systems
Linking the land, air and sea
Improving model predictions at different scales
Waste minimisation methods and technologies
Conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services
Institutional integration to manage ecosystems and ecosystem services
Doing more with less
Preparing for rapid change and extreme events
Planning for sustainable urban development in a South African context
Water security for South Africa
Food and fibre security for South Africa
Dynamics of transition at different scales - mechanisms of innovation and learning
Resilience and capability
Options for greening the developmental state
Technological innovation for sustainable social-ecological systems.
Social Learning for sustainability, adaptation, innovation and resilience.

8. Global Change Performance and Investment Council
Space Agency (Global Change Monitoring Network)
SA Polar Research Entity
Knowledge Brokering Support Unit
South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)
Centre of Excellence
Applied Centre for Climate and Earth Systems Studies (ACCESS)
Global Change, Society, and Sustainability
Africa Earth Observation Network (AEON) programmes
Inkaba ye Africa/ Ikhure Africa
South African Risk and Vulnerability Atlas (R&V Atlas)
Bureau on Global Change Science

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)
The three pillars of sustainability are social, economic and the natural environment
There is excellent research which is currently ongoing.
Focus on integration of the research outputs to assist with decisions 12

13. 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 
Socio-economic (Phase 1)
Atmospheric/climate (Phase 1)
Disaster Management (interoperability with NDMC system) ( )
Agriculture ( )
Forestry ( )
Water (surface & ground) ( )
Health ( )
Air quality/Emissions ( )
Human Settlements ( )
Biodiversity (terrestrial & freshwater) ( )
Coastal/marine ( )

14. Weather & Climate Atmospheric Modelling Strategic Initiative (AMSI)
Component 1:
High resolution weather forecasting
(1-10 days)
Component 2:
Long-range forecasting
(weeks to months)
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 14

16. 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 months

17. Bureau – enhancing science-policy links
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
Challenge 2:-
The work of researchers are not effectively informing policy decision
Challenge 1:-
Science being generated does not meet the needs of policy-makers

18. 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

19. 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

20. Thank You