Strategic initiativesAfrican Climate & Development Initiative |
Introduction
The obligation on the one hand to inspire with visions of a brighter future and the challenge on the other of responsible earth stewardship, present southern Africa with exceptional opportunities. To put effect to these opportunities, the University of Cape Town has established an African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) to engage with climate variability and global change from an African perspective. It aims to draw on, and coordinate, the University’s current resources, partnerships and intellectual capital across a range of disciplines through the framework of three broad foci: cutting-edge research, teaching at postgraduate level and social/public awareness.
Vision
The vision of the African Climate and Development Initiative is a Centre, in Africa, that articulates an optimistic African perspective on responsible stewardship of planet Earth, that provides government and business leaders with evidence based on high-quality research, on which to base action on both mitigation and adaptation. The Centre facilitates and undertakes research programmes concerned with the scientific, engineering, legal, social and political aspects of climate change, and develops and offers educational programmes for the public, school children and university students. It brings together natural scientists, engineers, social scientists, lawyers, economists and urban planners, amongst others, from UCT and beyond, to provide an African perspective, grounded in strong science, addressing issues relating to climate variability and global change affecting the African continent. It actively creates opportunities for African researchers and young scholars to contribute their own perspectives to these issues. Through the establishment of strong partnerships throughout Africa, the Centre contributes towards developing the African leaders of the future who have an intimate understanding of the physical and human needs of Africa, and who will contribute to addressing this all important issue facing humankind. This is a starting vision that will continue to develop and evolve over time.
Components of ACDI
To realise this vision, the ACDI is initially conceptualised as a virtual structure with three main foci to its activities:
This entails identification, facilitation and coordination of strong multi-, cross- and trans-disciplinary research programmes that draw, initially, on the unique natural setting available in the southwestern Cape, but which will extend and expand northwards into Africa. The research is informed by the challenges of achieving development in the context of high levels of inequality and poverty in areas of the southwestern Cape, throughout southern Africa and the continent. From this perspective ACDI focuses its research on solutions ranging from the global to the local scale. The subject matter of a social science component of the ACDI is policy and climate action itself; research and development will focus initiatives that promote sustainable economies and lifestyles, which in turn promote developmental (pro-poor) objectives. Strong research in the pure and applied sciences and social sciences thus underpins the ACDI’s activities, thus informing innovative models for adaptation and mitigation, particularly for, although not limited to, the poorer communities in Africa. Results from such research would ultimately lead to policy contributions, support impact and adaptation analyses, inform stakeholder needs, and feed into mitigation developments.
Central to the ACDI vision is the development of a strong tap-root into primary disciplines, from undergraduate through to postgraduate levels of the curriculum. To this end, training in relevant disciplines occurs through research Master’s and PhD degrees. At a more general educational level, a multi-disciplinary coursework Master’s programme in the general field of Climate Change and Development will be implemented in 2011. This programme will be tailored to the needs of those wanting general exposure to the issues of climate change and mitigation, and who have ambitions for a more vocational application.
The interplay between the two oceans, local geology and flora are wonderfully exposed in the southwestern Cape, as are the distressing socio-economic impacts of local climate variability. Part of the education of citizens, including all students in schools and universities, should be familiarity with and an appreciation of, their natural heritage and its global significance. ACDI actively creates this awareness and raises general levels of engagement with issues of climate change and climate variability. Most importantly, the quality of its research enables debate and public awareness of contrasting arguments in a responsible way.
Contact Details
info@acdi.uct.ac.za
http://www.acdi.uct.ac.za
General information about UCT is available on the UCT website.
