The 5th National Global Change Conference; Transformative Futures for Water Security Seminar
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Date
2023
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf)
Sponsorship
Abstract
The 5th National Global Change Conference organised by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), in partnership with the University of the Free State (UFS), took place at the Bloemfontein Campus of the UFS, from 30 January to 2 February 2023. The central theme of the 5th National Global Change Conference was: “Research and Innovation Accelerating transformations to global sustainability”.
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) jointly hosted a hybrid special session titled, Transformative Futures for Water Security on 31 January 2023. The objectives of the session were to; 1. Obtain sector grounded suggestions to climate change adaptation for the water sector, and 2. Identify data and information gaps under the cloud of climate change to influence planning for a water secure future. This Special Session provided a multisectoral dialogue on South Africa’s water future and adaptation to the influence of climate change.
The engagement proposed and discussed actions required nationally and regionally to strengthen water security in the face of global change. The following key recommendations were tabled from the session: 1. Engagement with communities to promote conservation of water resources must be a priority. 2. Municipalities need to develop own groundwater strategies to inform groundwater utilisation. 3. The process of transforming the water sector should be taken to local communities. 4. Water use quotas need to be stricter. 5. The implementation of solutions from the research community is commonly hindered bureaucratic processes; there needs to be means to minimize red tape.
Description
12 pages
Citation
Peer review status
Non-Peer Reviewed