From 1-4 July 2024, Kurisani Mdhluli attended the EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit, hosted by Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in collaboration with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).
Mdhluli is a doctoral student at the Politics and Urban Governance (PUG) Research Group, funded by the NRF as part of the Governing the Just Urban Transition project. The project aims to understand current governance mechanisms and opportunities for collaborative solutions towards just urban transition, by studying coping strategies of businesses in low-income areas of Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit, held in Africa for the first time, focused on nine key themes: Water Quality, Zero GHG Emission, Food Security, Microbial Systems and Bioinformatics, Achieving Soil Carbon Goals, AI-driven Circular Economy, Harnessing Big Data, Climate Resilient Agriculture and Leading with New Science Enterprises. The event attracted a diverse audience, including high school students, university students, academics and industry experts.
Mdhluli, a social sciences student, noted the dominance of natural sciences in discussions but emphasised the need for interdisciplinary approaches to tackle climate crises. He expressed disappointment over the lack of debate on the Just Urban Transition, which aims to create inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities.
Despite these concerns, Mdhluli found the summit enriching. He highlighted the importance of technological innovations in addressing climate challenges and the potential of informal sectors in tackling food security and unemployment. The summit emphasised the importance of aligning efforts with the UN Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063, ensuring a balance between learning and collaborating internationally, and building solutions that are community-owned and relevant for ordinary communities.
The launch of a study by the Department of Agriculture and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on food security was a highlight. The study revealed significant food insecurity in South Africa, particularly in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape and raised questions about land use for subsistence farming.
Mdhluli concluded that the summit showcased a global commitment to climate solutions but stressed the need for stronger synergies between academia, civil society, industry and international political will. He also called for more student exchange programs to enhance learning and research.
