Global Change Institute

Between 16 and 20 March, the Wits Global Change Institute, in collaboration with the UK Met Office, kicked off the AI4Climate Project with a five-day hackathon in Johannesburg. Climate scientists, researchers and students from Wits University, the SA Weather Service, CSIR and ARC convened to strengthen the region’s expertise in using AI and machine learning for climate modelling.

Met Office trainers led theoretical briefings while participants moved into practical labs, experimenting with AI techniques to downscale coarse climate data and produce higher-resolution climate outputs. Multidisciplinary teams tested and compared multiple datasets to assess their influence on model outputs, exchanged results in collaborative sessions, and sharpened technical and scientific skills aimed at tackling regionally relevant climate research questions.

The hackathon highlighted how AI can speed up climate modelling and support evidence-based decisions across Southern Africa, a region that faces acute climate risks. Supported by the UK government as part of a continuing UK–South Africa scientific partnership, the AI4Climate initiative marks a significant advancement in developing local expertise in AI-enhanced climate science.

Delegations from the British High Commission, the French Embassy and the South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation observed the event, reflecting both international and domestic government interest in harnessing AI for climate solutions. The initiative reinforces a cooperative pathway toward more capable, locally grounded climate science and practical outcomes for the region.


University of the Witwatersrand
Met Office global partnership

https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2026/2026-03/gci-and-uk-met-office-host-ai-climate-hackathon-to-strengthen-modelling-expertise.html

2026-03 - GCI and UK Met Office host AI climate hackathon to strengthen modelling expertise - Wits University GCI and UK Met Office host AI climate hackathon to strengthen modelling expertise 25 March 2026 - The AI4Climate project will boost AI and machine learning climate science tools and techniques. The Wits Global Change Institute (GCI) in partnership with the UK Met Office hosted a week-long hackathon....

Exciting opportunities available; a full-time funded PhD position and a Funded Postdoctoral researcher position.

Latest Publication by GCI:

In this new paper, we provide an understanding of the experiences and perceptions of the complex and reciprocal Food-Climate-Biodiversity nexus from the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in the Mono Transboundary Biosphere Reserve and explore the perceived future of the nexus through a mangrove ecosystem lens.

Future of the Food-Climate-Biodiversity Nexus: Evidence From Indigenous and Local Peoples of the Mono Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (Benin Republic-Togo) in West Africa - Sènankpon Tcheton, Andrea Marais-Potgieter, Denis Worlanyo Aheto, Laura... With a rapidly expanding population of people in Africa, the demand for food is predicted to increase, with a need for higher environmental sustainability. As s...

For those attending , please join Prof Laura Pereira at the pavilion for our session on evidence to inform better climate decision-making and investments.

We will explore the forthcoming Africa’s Nature Transition: A Roadmap for People, Nature and Climate and the ASCEND Blue Africa project as well as urban adaptation needs

With…
Lissa Karanja
Simone Sandholz
Sally Archibald

You can Also join online at the following link

e6f577e8-87de-4d39-be49-4bff14966aa3@c8eaf4fe-ad77-4105-a29f-1d208b5a678c" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e6f577e8-87de-4d39-be49-4bff14966aa3@c8eaf4fe-ad77-4105-a29f-1d208b5a678c

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Future Ecosystems for Africa (FEFA)
Wits - University of the Witwatersrand
Global Change Institute

Article by GCI's Prof. Laura Pereira - Climate tipping points are close: scientists urge radical action before it’s too late.

Climate tipping points are close: scientists urge radical action before it’s too late Dangerous climate tipping points will threaten food, water and coastlines. They’re irreversible and only radically accelerated climate action can stop them now.

Latest Publication by GCI's Professor Laura Pereira et al, Titled: Six principles to get natural climate solutions right in Africa

Six principles to get natural climate solutions right in Africa - Nature Sustainability Nature-based climate solutions tend to overlook Africa’s diverse contexts and development priorities. We propose six guiding principles centred on the aspirations of African peoples, recognizing the cultural connection of communities to their environments and the role of biodiversity in sustaining...

Join us for a Webinar on South Africas biggest climate change risks, and how a new set of climate change fact sheets can help us to prepare.

Register : https://wits-za.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_u0aSwA_-Q6Sysdlzgp2fWQ #/registration

The GCI Staff and Students have spent the week participating in the TC/ESG25 conference. Sessions delved into themes such as biodiversity governance, seeds of good Anthropocenes, governance during periods of rupture, and shaping the future of social-ecological systems research. In parallel, the Arts & Wellbeing track engaged participants in practices of reconnection including experiences in the park.

Day 2 of the Wits-GCI Transformations and Sustainability Winter School saw participants explore adaptive capacity and climate justice, examining how resilience, equity, and sustainability intersect. Discussions unpacked the role of different capitals and dimensions of justice in shaping community responses to climate challenges, with case studies bringing theory to life. An early morning and sunset Kruger drive offered powerful moments to reflect on the interconnectedness of people and nature, enriching a day of deep learning and exchange.

Day 1

The Wits-GCI Transformations and Sustainability Winter School 2025 got underway on 11 August at Skukuza, in the Kruger National Park. With the beauty of the bushveld as their backdrop, 20 participants from 11 countries spent the day getting to know one another and sharing experiences. Day one also offered an introduction to the latest climate projections for the region, along with the science behind them, setting the stage for an inspiring week ahead.