By Susan Khumalo
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) is proud to lead the Science20 (S20) in 2025, marking South Africa’s inaugural leadership of this important forum.
The theme for this year’s S20 meeting is Climate Change and Well-being, which addresses the critical intersection of climate, food, water, energy, and land systems. This theme aligns with South Africa’s strategic priorities and the global need for sustainable, science-driven solutions to climate challenges.
Having assumed the G20 presidency from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, South Africa will steer discussions under the overarching theme of Fostering Solidarity, Equity, and Sustainable Development.
The S20 is the official engagement group for science academies within the G20, established in 2017 to foster science-based dialogue and provide policy advice.
Its mission is to promote scientific cooperation and ensure that scientific perspectives influence G20 decisions on global challenges. Each year, the S20 focuses on a theme of global importance, culminating in a communiqué with actionable recommendations for G20 leaders.
ASSAf will coordinate discussions among the national academies of science from G20 countries, culminating in a summit that produces recommendations for advancing sustainable development and climate resilience. The inaugural face-to-face S20 meeting will take place from 25 to 27 February 2025 in Pretoria.
The event will kick off with a welcome dinner on 25 February, followed by two full days of closed discussions on 26 and 27 February. Pretoria, as South Africa’s capital, is known for its rich historical significance, remarkable architectural heritage, and abundant green spaces, making it an appealing location for this significant gathering.
The S20 operates as a forum rather than an organisation, with its summits held annually before the respective G20 summit. Previous meetings have taken place in Germany (2017), Argentina (2018), Japan (2019), Saudi Arabia (2020), Italy (2021), Indonesia (2022), India (2023), and Brazil (2024).
Knowledge partners for this event include academies from G20 countries as well as national and international observers.
A final in-person S20 meeting will be scheduled around the Ministers’ meeting in September 2025 to maximize participation from academy presidents and other key figures while finalising the communiqué.