S20 South Africa

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d44148-025-00049-w

South Africa has become the first African nation to host a Science20 (S20) meeting, a key forum of national science academies from G20 countries.

This year’s S20 considers urgent global challenges, with a focus on Africa’s vulnerabilities. Held from 24-27 February 2025, the meeting included leaders from the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), all of whom emphasised the urgency of addressing climate change and the critical role of science-driven policy recommendations for the G20.

The recommendations will be made public to coincide with the September G20 summit meeting.

“The S20 deliberates on pertinent issues with the idea of sharing recommendations. But ultimately, these discussions must reach policymakers,” Thokozani Majozi, ASSAf president, told Nature Africa. “If the S20 does not succeed in articulating its position in a way that policymakers can understand and adopt, then, in my opinion, it would have failed.”

When asked about the uncertainty brought on by policy changes such as that of the US government’s sudden foreign aid funding freezes, and the United Kingdom’s decision to cut foreign aid in favour of defence spending, Majozi highlighted the importance of adaptability and in creating solutions that are feasible for diverse nations.

“We should be alive to the fact that changes happen steeply at times, and we should be able to adapt,” he said.