A significant stride in the battle against climate change has been made with the announcement of a $92 million investment into the International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. Spearheaded by the Canada Research Coordinating Committee, this global initiative aims to fund interdisciplinary and trans-sectoral research targeting key risks associated with climate change.
The announcement, made on June 3, 2024, marks the allocation of funds to support 11 new collaborative research projects. These projects will focus on addressing multiple key risks outlined in the Sixth Assessment Report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Specifically, they aim to co-create adaptation and mitigation strategies for vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by climate change, including those in low- and middle-income countries, Indigenous communities, and other marginalized groups.
Launched in 2023, the initiative is a collaborative effort among research funders from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It involves researchers from at least two of these partner countries, with additional collaboration from countries such as Argentina, Australia, Bangladesh, Ghana, India, and Uganda, among others.
South Africa's National Research Foundation (NRF) has welcomed this investment, which supports four local research projects. Working alongside other funders under the initiative, the NRF aims to advance research focused on adaptation and mitigation strategies tailored to the country's unique challenges.
Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, CEO of NRF, expressed optimism about the impact of this financial boost, stating, "The funding will propel these research projects to greater heights." Alongside the investment into the International Joint Initiative for Research in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, the Canada Research Coordinating Committee also announced grants from the NFRF Exploration Competition, totalling $33 million.
These grants support innovative research across various disciplines, further contributing to the collective efforts to address the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.
Article by Nyokabi Wanjiku
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