South Africa’s research funding, promotion, support and facilitation agency, the National Research Foundation (NRF), has welcomed the news that Canada is providing an extra $92-million in funding to the International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation (incredibly, this does not seem to have an official abbreviation). South Africa is one of the members, and funders, of this initiative. In addition to South Africa and Canada, the other members and funders are Brazil, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
“The financial boost to the International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation comes at an opportune time,” affirmed NRF CEO Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo. “Research projects under the initiative are starting to take shape. These include those that are funded by the NRF, which has made significant investments in the initiative. The funding will propel these research projects to greater heights.”
Currently, the NRF is funding four local research projects, under the aegis of the international initiative. Two further South African projects are being funded by Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund. (These local projects are part of larger, Canadian-led, research programmes, hence the Canadian funding.)
There are now 32 international interdisciplinary research projects taking place under the aegis of the International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. These projects involve 424 researchers in 45 countries. All the projects have a duration of three years and are focused on the development and implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies for vulnerable groups. Depending on their location, these groups are defined in terms of their physical or socioeconomic (or combined) vulnerability to climate change.
“Science and research are essential to combatting climate change, one of the most significant threats to the future wellbeing and prosperity of our planet,” affirmed Canadian Federal Innovation, Science and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne, at the announcement of the extra funding. “The investments announced [Tuesday] help bring world-leading researchers together to work on innovative research projects that could have significant impacts. By bringing disciplines together in unexpected ways, we are responding to the challenges Canada and the world are facing.”