German Embassy in South Africa brings together climate experts from policy, research and international organisations to discuss climate-related risks and pathways towards greater resilience.
How does climate change affect security, economic development and societies in Southern Africa? And how can research, policy and international cooperation contribute to building resilience? These questions were at the centre of the 2026 Climate Talks hosted by the German Embassy in South Africa, with support from WASANet, on 3 November 2026 in Pretoria.
Around 35 experts from policy and research funding institutions, international organisations, development partners and academia gathered at Alpine Attitude to explore the nexus between climate change and security and its implications for decision-making in the region. Participants included representatives from institutions such as the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the Water Research Commission (WRC), the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA), GIZ, Stellenbosch University, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the University of Pretoria.
Climate resilience as a shared priority
In his opening remarks, German Ambassador to South Africa Oliver Rentschler highlighted the importance of climate preparedness and resilience across a range of sectors, including water and energy, human and environmental health, and socio-economic development in South Africa and the wider Southern African Development Community (SADC).
He also marked 30 years of scientific and technological cooperation between Germany and South Africa. Since 1996, this partnership has been driving research, innovation and knowledge exchange, providing an important foundation for addressing shared challenges.
Rethinking development pathways in a changing climate
The keynote address was delivered by Prof. Dr. Guy Midgley, Chief Academic Director of the Stellenbosch University School for Climate Studies. In his presentation, “The Fragility of Abundance: Framing Alternative Development Pathways for Southern Africa”, he highlighted the need to consider climate change in the broader context of human and technological development.
Drawing attention to the combined pressures of population growth and climate change, he outlined the complex challenges facing decision-makers across Africa and emphasised the importance of rethinking development pathways in light of growing environmental and societal pressures.
The perspective of the younger generation was brought into the discussion by Dr. Katlego Mashiane from the CSIR. Speaking as the event’s Voice of the Youth, she used the increasing intensity and frequency of wildfires under changing climatic conditions to illustrate the urgency of climate adaptation. She emphasised that action is needed now to safeguard the living conditions of future generations.
Climate security requires an integrated approach
Moderated by Dr. Jörg Helmschrot, Project Coordinator of WASANet, the panel discussion brought together representatives from academia and international organisations:
- Prof. Roula Inglesi-Lotz, University of Pretoria
- Dr. Katlego Mashiane, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
- Prof. Dr. Guy Midgley, Stellenbosch University School for Climate Studies
- Dr. Loreen Katiyo, Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWPSA)
- Dr. Gabriel Lekalakala, Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
The discussion highlighted a shared understanding that climate change poses growing risks to economies, ecosystems and societies. These risks are further intensified by population growth and rising demand for essential resources and services, including water, food, energy and healthcare. Geopolitical dynamics and socio-economic factors add further complexity.
A key conclusion was that climate security cannot be addressed in isolation. It is closely interconnected with water, food and energy security, as well as broader socio-economic development. Consequently, climate adaptation and mitigation efforts need to be closely aligned with development priorities across Southern Africa.
The panellists also stressed the importance of sound scientific research, education and training at all levels, alongside stronger private-sector engagement. Bringing these different perspectives together is essential to developing effective responses and translating scientific knowledge into practical action.
Strengthening cooperation for a resilient future
The Climate Talks provided a valuable platform for exchange between experts from research, policy, development cooperation and international organisations. The event underlined the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and long-term partnerships in addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change and security.
The event concluded with words of thanks from Dr. Holger Bodag, Head of Research and Education at the German Embassy in South Africa.
The Climate Talks were organised by the German Embassy in South Africa with support from WASANet, the networking and knowledge-transfer project of the German-African research programme WASA – Water Security in Africa. WASANet connects research projects with relevant stakeholders and supports the exchange of knowledge between science, industry, policymakers and other partners to help translate research findings into practical solutions for water security in Southern Africa.