Pioneering Climate Services: Shaping Resilient Futures

“Together, we co-create solutions that address systemic climate challenges and drive transformative change.” Dr Shingirirai Savious Mutanga

Unprecedented environmental challenges have positioned my research group, CSIR climate services, as a forerunner of innovation and leadership in climate change research. Our mission transcends mere scientific inquiry; it is a commitment to forging pathways that empower industries across Southern Africa to thrive in a low-carbon, resilient future.

At the core of our vision lies the transformative power of knowledge. Through advanced modelling and cutting-edge decision-support tools, we empower stakeholders to navigate complex climate landscapes with precision and foresight. By delivering actionable insights, we enable proactive adaptation strategies that not only mitigate risks but also foster sustainable growth and resilience in the face of climate uncertainty.

Innovation is our currency of change. By developing transparent GHG inventories and robust carbon modelling frameworks, we enable businesses and governments to pioneer carbon-neutral strategies and meet global sustainability standards. Our focus on co-benefits ensures that every action taken contributes not only to environmental sustainability but also to enhancing livelihoods and fostering inclusive growth. Twinned with the Climate Modelling Research Group, which provides seamless projections and downscaling of future climate through seasonal and near-term time scales, we can build climate risk resilience across all sectors of the economy.

Collaboration fuels our ambition. We partner with industry leaders, policymakers and academia to harness collective expertise and resources. Together, we co-create solutions that address systemic climate challenges and drive transformative change. Our global engagements through platforms like COP 28 and regional alliances within BRICS and SADC amplify our impact, positioning us at the forefront of shaping sustainable development agendas.

As pioneers in climate services, we catalyse critical mass. Through initiatives like the water-energy-food nexus and landscape restoration, we champion nature-based solutions that enhance resilience and preserve biodiversity. Our robust monitoring and reporting frameworks ensure accountability and drive continuous improvement, aligning with global commitments such as the Paris Agreement.?

At the CSIR Climate Services Research Group, we lead with purpose and conviction. We are not just envisioning a sustainable future; we are actively shaping it. At the heart of our value proposition lies the ability to translate complex climate data into actionable intelligence. By enabling proactive adaptation strategies, we empower our partners to build resilience and sustain growth in a changing climate landscape.

?Join us in redefining what climate services can achieve—where innovation meets resilience, and every decision today secures a prosperous tomorrow for generations to come.

The research group has produced several key outputs, including but not limited to the following:

• Project 1: The research group has led the development of a monitoring and evaluation system for multi-hazard early warning systems and losses and damages under the auspice of the Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT);
• Project 2: Business case development for sector job resilience planning in support of Just Transition in South Africa (Mpumalanga). UK PACT.
• Project 3: The Third National Communication on Climate Change and South Africa’s Third Biennial Update Report, which were submitted to the UNFCCC.
• Project 4: Scenario building for future water management in the Limpopo province, South Africa, in collaboration with the University of Limpopo and South African Weather Services (SAWS); and
• Also played a key role in South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions reports (DFFE) and the latest National Food and Nutrition Security Survey, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALLRD).

Written by Dr Shingirirai Savious Mutanga

About the author?

Dr Shingirirai Savious Mutanga is the research group leader for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s (CSIR) climate services research group, responsible for strategic investment goal setting, leadership provision to a multi-disciplinary team and the implementation of the research, development and innovation strategy. He holds a PhD in industrial systems engineering from the University of Pretoria and an MSc in geo-information science and earth observation for environmental modelling and management, obtained from a consortium of four universities: the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, Lund University in Sweden, the University of Warsaw in Poland and the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) in the Netherlands. His work experience spans the government to the private sector, academic research, think tanks and consulting. He has served on the Special T20 Africa Standing Group for the G20, BRICS and the Southern African Steering Committee for Future Earth, a subregional investment forum and is a member of the Southern African Vulnerability Assessment Committee.?He has published extensively in both national and international accredited journals, policy analysis reports, books and conference proceedings. Among his publications are the edited books “Africa in a Changing Global Environment”, “Management and Mitigation of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in South Africa: Input for Mineral Beneficiation in Africa” and “Africa at Crossroads.” His research interest is modelling a wide range of global environmental issues, particularly energy, water, food security and climate change. Within the climate change domain, apart from his technical competence, he has a great interest in advancing climate education. He is a senior research associate with the University of Johannesburg (UJ), the University of Free State (UFS), the University of Limpopo (UL) and the University of Pretoria (UP), where he is supervising master’s and doctoral students.

?Contact Details

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