CSAG is a leading international climate research centre based in Africa with broad research skills and competency in both physical and social dimensions of climate, a strong experience in engaging with society, and an excellent track record in capacity development. We prioritize societally relevant research to support responses to climate variability and change.
The ACCESS Winter Rainfall Summit May 2017 On 15 May 2017, a blisteringly hot day (32°C at the nearby South African Astronomical Observatory weather station), ACCESS held a Winter Rainfall Summit at the National Geo-spatial Information meeting room in Mowbray. For the morning sessions a collection of scientists working on variability/predictability of winter rainfall… Read more »
Working in the area of Adaptation, Impacts and Vulnerability (AIV), I tend to feel like we are locked into a paradigm from which we are unable to escape – at least not at speed. We are chipping away at small pieces of the system, changing a bolt here, greasing up the chain there, however… Read more »
The Drought… Everyone in the Cape must be acutely aware of the drought by now. Yes… we’re in the middle of it… Perhaps the idea has not fully crystallized in the minds of a couple of thirsty dwellers of Claremont and Constantia, who still guzzle 2-3 thousand of liters of water per person per day… Read more »
On the 27th July 2017 CSAG celebrated our 25 Year anniversary and officially launched as a University of Cape Town Research Centre. Over a relaxed breakfast event we were joined by a large number of our CSAG colleagues, affiliates and friends. Special attendees and guest speakers included Professor Anton le Roex (Dean of UCT Science Faculty), Dr…. Read more »
By Chris Lennard An ancient proverb says that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. I am very fortunate to have a friend of some 20 years like this. I am known as his “Ugly twin brother Chris” and likewise he is my “Ugly twin brother Bruce”. He is married to “my… Read more »
There is no need to remind that Cape Town’s water supply situation is dire. We have level 4 water restrictions in place, water storage levels are extremely low and alternative short-term and long-term water sources are actively being sought by the city’s government – solutions such as funding a set of temporary desalination plants, and… Read more »
By Jessica Lee “Oh dear, they are probably going to tear it apart.” We’ve just finished the first draft of our new tool developed as part of the Small Opportunity Grant project: Developing a Common Language for Climate Change. It’s a game aimed at helping city officials understand the different ways in which the term… Read more »
I grew up in a community where anything just happened because it was just meant to happen. Well, at least we thought so and not many had the curiosity to ask themselves why. Livelihood activities such as farming were based on indigenous knowledge systems which are traced way back to the days of our great… Read more »
By: Jessica Lee Being the only philosophy graduate in a friendship circle of scientists I often find myself in debates on the role of science and scientists in the public sphere. I recall one particular conversation where a friend of mine told me that, “Scientists shouldn’t have to deal with society. What we need is… Read more »