5th Conference on National Global Change held at University of the Free State

The University of the Free State (UFS) will host the 5th National Global Change Conference (GCC5) on its Bloemfontein Campus from 30 January to 2 February 2023. The conference, a collaboration between the Department of Science and Innovation (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), will see delegates from around the country descend on the city of Bloemfontein to deliberate on issues relating to global change. Among those in attendance will be Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation; Barbara Creecy, Minister of Forestry and Fisheries and Environmental Affairs; and Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), who will give presentations on various subjects.

The UFS will be the fourth institution to host the Global Change Conference since its inception in 2012, following Nelson Mandela University (NMU), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and the University of Limpopo (UL).

This conference is a platform for experts, policy-makers, and leaders worldwide to come together and discuss the most pressing issues related to climate change, environmental degradation, and sustainable development. It brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to share ideas, best practices, and strategies for addressing the challenges of global change. It also provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn from each other, build partnerships, and take action to promote sustainable development. The gathering is a vital forum for dialogue and cooperation on complex and interconnected global change issues and plays a crucial role in shaping the global agenda.

The conference’s thematic areas are based on the four cross-cutting knowledge challenge areas identified in the 10-year Global Change Research Plan for South Africa: understanding a changing planet; adapting how we live; reducing our carbon footprint; and innovation for sustainability.