By Phumelele Mkhonta
The City of Durban in South Africa is currently abuzz with environmentalists, climate activists, academia and politicians.
This is because the city is hosting this year’s Energy-Water-Food Climate Nexus International Summit and spearheading the summit is the Florida and Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in collaboration with the Mangosuthu University of Technology.
This pivotal event, scheduled for July 2 to July 4, 2024, at the Coastlands on the Ridge Hotel in Durban, is anticipated to bring together global experts to address critical issues at the intersection of energy, water, food security, and climate change.
According to a communiqué sent out by the summit’s communications office, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal of MUT, detailed the summit’s significance, stating that the event marked a crucial moment in their collective effort to confront the complex challenges threatening the planet’s delicate balance.
“By fostering collaboration among diverse experts, we aim to catalyse innovative solutions for a more resilient and equitable future,” said the Professor.
Dr. Victor Ibeanusi, Dean of the School of Environment at FAMU and founder of the Nexus Summit, emphasised the focus on tangible outcomes.
“This summit goes beyond discussion to deliver concrete results. We’re recruiting and training the next generation of leaders to provide solutions to the vexing challenges outlined in our thematic tracks.
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A key outcome will be peer-reviewed proceedings published in our trademarked International Energy-Water-Food Climate Nexus journal,” said Dr. Ibeanusi.
Dr. Lin Chang, a key contributor, highlighted the summit’s collaborative nature said the platform allowed researchers from the US, and globally, to collaborate on crucial tracks, share achievements, and collectively address global challenges.
“Our goal is to nurture the next generation of professionals equipped to tackle these complex issues.”
The summit’s comprehensive program features high-level discussions, interactive workshops, and cutting-edge presentations.
Key themes include soil health advances and food security, renewable energy systems, global access to safe water, climate change and indigenous knowledge, nutrition security and urban food systems, and AI (artificial intelligence) and big data in environmental sustainability.
Notable speakers include the Honourable Minister Jiwoh E. Abdulai from Sierra Leone’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Larry Robinson, President of FAMU, and Adebisi Adeoti, Head of Sustainability and Strategy for Africa at DOW.
Innovative segments like ‘The WHY Hack’ will provide students with a platform to present solutions to Energy-Water-Food Climate Nexus challenges.
The summit will also feature the launch of the South African National Food and Nutrition Security (SAFNS) study, underlining its commitment to practical outcomes.
As the sixth instalment in this series, the Africa summit further cements its role in shaping global discourse on energy, water, food, and climate challenges.
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It builds on previous summits’ foundations, aiming to expand its reach and impact across continents.
Professor Sibiya concluded saying the summit was not just about discussing problems stating that it was about actively working towards solutions.
“As we face unprecedented global challenges, the Energy-Water-Food Climate Nexus Summit 2024 stands as a beacon of hope and collaboration, poised to be a game-changer in our collective pursuit of sustainable development.”
The summit is accredited by the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) for CPD points for all registered scientists, further emphasizing its professional and academic value.
