Global Change Institute

Home
South Africa
Johannesburg
Global Change Institute

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

An enabling research platform focused on tackling challenges related to global change, climate change & sustainability in a multi-disciplinary manner.

The Global Change Institute (formerly known as the Global Change and Sustainability Research Institute) was established as an enabling research platform of global significance and local impact, fostering informed action for adaptation and innovation in the rapidly changing southern African region. The GCI addresses problems related to global change, climate change and sustainability in a multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner. It wants to play a more prominent role in helping to co-create, understand and inform global change solutions at various levels of decision-making (in business, industry and government – municipal, provincial, national); and to function as an enabling platform utilising research to support progressive change through collaborative efforts with stakeholders. Embedded in a higher education institution, the outcomes of research, teaching and academic citizenship activities supports GCI to link different knowledge domains, which leads to shared understanding as the basis for change towards sustainability.

04/11/2026

On 30 October, the Global Change Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand hosted the African Sustainability Networks Roundtable, led by Dr Memory Reid PhD and Dr Bonita Birch, representing the Future Earth Africa Hub’s Transformative Leadership for Climate Engagement science cluster and AFRETEC Sustainability and Environment cluster. The roundtable brought together representatives from the Future Earth Future Earth Africa Hub, AFRETEC, the The National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF), GREEN-STEM, the African Capacity Building Foundation, and the Wits Research Office, alongside researchers and postgraduate students.
Discussions highlighted the need to connect climate science with governance, strengthen collaboration across networks, and advance sustainability science grounded in African realities. An important step towards sustained partnerships and collective action. Thank you to everyone who contributed. More to come!

31/10/2026

Congratulations to the students and postdocs that won awards at the Global Change Institute Colloquium (despite very stiff competition);
*Best MSc CWRR in Interdisciplinary Global Change Studies presenter: Kate Reuss
*Best presenter in Climate modelling and Projections Theme: Siyabonga Hlumelo Nozwane
*Best panelist - Super El Nino: Is Southern Africa ready for the next drought?: Tumisho Phoshoko
*Best presenter in Sustainability, adaptation, governance and planning Theme: Batlhalifi Nkgothoe
*Best poster presenter: Bello Sophiat
Honourable mentions: Amir Dildar, Nomzamo Ndlovu, Angela Opondoh

25/09/2026

Building GHG networks and capacity for observation, monitoring and carbon cycle research in Africa is more important than ever.
Dr Yolandi Ernst from the Global Change Institute at the Wits - University of the Witwatersrand presented on the design and deployment of an African Methane Column network at the 23rd WMO/IAEA Meeting on Carbon Dioxide, Other Greenhouse Gases and Related Tracers Measurement Techniques (GGMT 2026), which took place from September 21–24, 2026 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. This network, co-funded by NASA, will bring together international consortia including researchers from Spark Climate Solutions, LSCE, KIT, University of Edinburgh, UCLA and University of Leeds.
The methane network will prioritise wetland observations together with agriculture and livestock to reduce uncertainties in the African methane budget.

15/09/2026

Don"t miss this seminar on Rainfall onset, climate risk and river responses in southern Africa with Dr Auther Maviza from the Global Change Institute

11/09/2026

SPONSORED | 🌍 Johannesburg Climate Week takes place from 21–25 September 2026, bringing communities together for a week of free events focused on climate and social justice. Join the conversation and take part in community-led action.

Learn more>>> www.jhbclimateweek.org.za

25/08/2026

Considering to further your career in Interdisciplinarity and Sustainability of Social and Ecological Systems, then the full-time MSc by Coursework and Research Report hosted by the Global Change Institute at the Wits - University of the Witwatersrand might be just the challenge you need!

The MSc by coursework and research report in the field of Interdisciplinary Global Change Studies aims to enhance capacity for multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary research in the area of global and climate change.

24/08/2026

*END OF GREENSTEM INTRA-AFRICA MOBILITY SESSION*

We are pleased to announce the completion of the *6-month GreenStem Horizontal Mobility Programme* by *Mr. Senankpon Tcheton* of the *Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa*.

*GreenSTEM Scholar Host at UNILAG*: Temitope O. Sogbanmu, PhD (Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology & EESKT Research Cluster Lead, TCEBCEM)

*Research Topic*: *Mangrove Forests in Solving the Food-Climate-Biodiversity Challenges: Ecological Role and Drivers of Change in Lagos State, Nigeria*

You are hereby invited to his *send-off ceremony*:

*Date*: Monday, 24th August 2026
*Time*: 3:00 PM
*Venue*: OGESP Office - formerly International Office

*Join Zoom Meeting*
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86777364534?pwd=qKebbUseIpKntwFExyB8HfliadBt88.1
*Meeting ID*: 867 7736 4534
*Passcode*: 210114

Thank you.

*Announcer*: GreenSTEM Project Lead (UNILAG) - Prof. Ismail Ibraheem

07/08/2026

The university needs to be transparent about the funding it receives from the fossil fuel industry and the aims of research projects.

13/07/2026

The Global Change Institute has new (Ph)Doctor's in the house! Congratulations Dr Nozipho and Dr Mulako, with supervisors, Prof Laura Pereira and Prof Coleen Vogel! We wish you all the best for the next chapters!

18/05/2026

Congratulations to Prof Laura Pereira et al. for their latest paper in One Earth, titled: Solving science conundrums in the climate-nature-equity polycrisis with integrated transformative scenarios

https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2026/2026-05/new-scenarios-needed-to-address-climate-crisis-.html

Address

2nd Floor Flame Station Building, 2 Jan Smuts Avenue Braamfontein
Johannesburg

Telephone

+27117176086

Website

https://www.wits.ac.za/gci/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Global Change Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.