Keynote Address
Great Zimbabwe University
By Vice-Chancellor and Principal: Prof Khehla Ndlovu
Date: August 2026
Venue: Elephant Hills Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Chairperson of the Great Zimbabwe University Council, Prof Rukuni
Vice-Chancellor of Great Zimbabwe University, Prof Zvobgo
Representative of the Government Ministries of Zimbabwe and Director-Generals
Our DVC Prof Nelana our lead organiser
Pro Vice-Chancellors and DVCs present
Principals from Poly Technics and Teacher Colleges
Industry Partners
Esteemed researchers,
Practitioners, Policymakers, Innovators,
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning.
It is both a privilege and an honour to join you at Great Zimbabwe University for the Second International Conference on Climate Resilient, Smart and Sustainable Futures (ICCRSSF 2026).
Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to Great Zimbabwe University for hosting this important gathering and for continuing the momentum established during the inaugural conference, which the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) had the privilege of hosting in 2025.
Over the past year, ICCRSSF has evolved into more than an academic conference. It has become a continental platform for advancing dialogue, strengthening partnerships and identifying practical solutions to one of the defining challenges of our generation, namely climate change.
We meet at a time when the global climate crisis demands far more than acknowledgement. It requires decisive leadership, scientific innovation and collective action.
The theme of this year’s conference, “Designing Systems for Accelerating Climate Resilient and Sustainable Societies,” captures both the urgency of our moment and the responsibility placed upon institutions such as ours. It challenges us to move beyond dialogue towards practical, integrated action by fostering cross sector partnerships, encouraging innovation, and ensuring that our transition to sustainable societies leaves no one and no place behind.
The urgency of our collective effort cannot be overstated.
Several scholars, including Ojha et al. al (2026), continue to demonstrate in their writings that climate change is accelerating, resulting in increasingly frequent and severe extreme weather events, rising sea levels, biodiversity loss and profound disruptions to ecosystems and human livelihoods. These impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable communities, widening existing inequalities and threatening economic stability, food security and social cohesion.
As institutions of higher learning, we have a responsibility that extends well beyond the production of knowledge. We must generate solutions, influence public policy, empower communities and develop graduates capable of leading society through unprecedented environmental and developmental challenges.
At VUT, sustainability has become an integral part of our institutional mission. As part of this commitment, we hosted the 2025 South African Mercury Network (SAMNET) Symposium, bringing together researchers and policymakers to address critical environmental challenges. As we build on the legacy of VUT’s 60th anniversary, we remain steadfast in advancing sustainability through research, innovation, partnerships and community engagement.
This conference must therefore be more than an academic exercise. It must serve as a call to action, a meeting of minds dedicated to shaping practical solutions and forging a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future. More importantly, it should become the starting point for new collaborations that continue long after we leave Victoria Falls.
The conference has been carefully designed around five interconnected sub-themes, each representing a critical pillar in our shared pursuit of climate-resilient and sustainable societies.
Climate Impact, Financing, Resilience Building and Mitigation
The first sub-theme examines the core of climate action by exploring innovative, scalable and collaborative approaches to climate adaptation and mitigation.
Central to this discussion is the concept of climate resilience, the ability of social, economic and environmental systems to anticipate, withstand, recover from and adapt to climate-related shocks while maintaining their essential functions and continuing to evolve.
Resilience is no longer simply about responding to disasters. It is about designing systems that anticipate change before crises occur. It requires us to strengthen infrastructure, protect ecosystems, support vulnerable communities and develop institutions capable of adapting to an increasingly uncertain future.
The solutions we seek cannot emerge from isolated disciplines or individual institutions. They require co-designed, co-created and co-delivered approaches that unite governments, universities, industry, civil society and local communities.
Only through such collaboration can we move from reactive responses towards proactive systems that build lasting resilience.
Sustainable Development and the 2030 Agenda
The second sub-theme reminds us that climate action cannot be separated from sustainable development.
Our commitment to a sustainable future remains firmly anchored in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a global blueprint for promoting prosperity while protecting both people and the planet.
The United Nations Women (2022) and Khine and Langkulsen (2023) highlight that climate resilience is intrinsically linked to poverty reduction, education, healthcare, gender equality, economic inclusion and environmental stewardship. Progress in one area inevitably strengthens progress in others.
The Sustainable Development Goals provide an integrated framework for addressing these interconnected global challenges.
Accelerating this progress requires national and regional policies that align with global sustainability objectives. Climate considerations must become embedded across every sphere of governance, from urban planning and industrial development to education, agriculture and infrastructure.
Equally important is our ability to measure progress accurately.
Robust monitoring and evaluation systems allow governments, universities and development partners to identify gaps, assess impact and ensure accountability. Without reliable data and meaningful indicators, even the most ambitious sustainability initiatives risk falling short of their intended outcomes.
The growing integration of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into corporate strategies and financial decision-making also represents a significant opportunity. Organisations that embrace sustainability not only improve environmental and social outcomes but also strengthen long-term resilience and competitiveness.
Furthermore, national and local voluntary reviews, supported by strong institutional capacity, play an essential role in accelerating sustainable development.
In this regard, education remains one of our most powerful tools.
In Understanding the role of digital technologies in education: A review, Haleem et al. (2022)argue that digital transformation and educational technologies are reshaping how knowledge is created, shared, and applied. Universities must prepare graduates who possess not only technical competence but also critical thinking, ethical leadership and the ability to solve increasingly complex global challenges.
Education must inspire future generations to become innovators, entrepreneurs and responsible global citizens capable of building sustainable societies.
Smart Change and Digital Transformation for Sustainability
The third sub-theme explores how technological innovation can accelerate our transition towards sustainable and climate-resilient societies.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, advanced analytics and big data are transforming the way we understand, monitor and respond to environmental challenges.
Imagine intelligent energy systems capable of optimising electricity distribution in real time, smart agricultural technologies that reduce water consumption while improving productivity, or AI-powered climate models that enable governments to anticipate and prepare for extreme weather events with greater accuracy.
These technologies have the potential to revolutionise environmental management and sustainable development.
Almulhim and Yigitcanlar (2025) highlight that smart city initiatives are already demonstrating how digital innovation can improve resource efficiency, reduce emissions and enhance the quality of urban life.
At the same time, digital technologies are creating new opportunities for rural communities. Farmers can access climate-smart agricultural information through mobile platforms, satellite technologies can monitor environmental change with remarkable precision, and digital financial services can strengthen economic resilience among vulnerable populations (Mmbando 2025).
Advances in supercomputing and data analytics continue to improve climate forecasting, enabling governments and institutions to make more informed decisions regarding infrastructure planning, disaster preparedness and environmental conservation.
Remote sensing technologies, combined with Artificial Intelligence, provide unprecedented capabilities for monitoring deforestation, biodiversity loss, glacier retreat and land degradation.
Moreover, digital technologies significantly strengthen our ability to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.
Early warning systems, predictive analytics and AI-assisted emergency response tools are improving disaster risk management across the world, helping to save lives while reducing economic losses.
By harnessing the power of data science, Artificial Intelligence and digital innovation, we can unlock new knowledge, optimise resource allocation and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
Equally important is ensuring that reliable climate information systems make timely, accurate and accessible data available to governments, researchers, businesses and communities alike.
Technology alone, however, cannot solve the climate crisis.
Its success ultimately depends on responsible leadership, ethical governance, inclusive access and meaningful collaboration across nations, institutions and disciplines.
Together, these elements will determine whether digital transformation becomes a catalyst for sustainable development, or another missed opportunity.
Conclusion
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we reflect on the five sub-themes that will shape our discussions over the coming days, one message becomes abundantly clear: no single institution, discipline or nation can address the climate crisis alone.
Our success will depend on our willingness to collaborate across borders, disciplines and sectors. It will depend on our ability to translate research into policy, innovation into practical solutions and knowledge into meaningful societal impact.
Universities have a unique responsibility in this regard.
We are not only centres of teaching and research. We are also catalysts for innovation, trusted partners in development and institutions that help shape the leaders who will define our collective future.
The challenges before us are undoubtedly immense. Yet history has repeatedly shown that humanity’s greatest breakthroughs have emerged when knowledge, collaboration and determination converge around a shared purpose.
I am therefore confident that the conversations, partnerships and ideas that emerge from this conference will contribute meaningfully to building societies that are more resilient, more inclusive and more sustainable.
Let us use this gathering not merely to exchange ideas, but to forge lasting partnerships, inspire bold thinking and commit ourselves to tangible action that will benefit future generations.
Your collective expertise, experience and commitment are essential in designing the systems that will accelerate our journey towards climate resilient and sustainable societies.
Together, we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to shape a future that is environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically prosperous.
I thank Great Zimbabwe University for its warm hospitality and commend the organisers for convening this important international platform.
I wish you a productive, engaging and inspiring conference, and I look forward to the ideas, collaborations and innovations that will emerge from our time together.
Thank you! Ndinokutendai! Ngiyabonga!
References
Almulhim, A. I., & Yigitcanlar, T. (2025). Understanding Smart Governance of Sustainable Cities: A Review and Multidimensional Framework. In Smart Cities (Vol. 8, Issue 4). https://doi.org/10.3390/smartcities8040113
Haleem, A., Javaid, M., Qadri, M. A., & Suman, R. (2022). Understanding the role of digital technologies in education: A review. Sustainable Operations and Computers, 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susoc.2022.05.004
Khine, M. M., & Langkulsen, U. (2023). The Implications of Climate Change on Health among Vulnerable Populations in South Africa: A Systematic Review. In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Vol. 20, Issue 4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043425
Mmbando, G. S. (2025). Harnessing artificial intelligence and remote sensing in climate-smart agriculture: the current strategies needed for enhancing global food security. In Cogent Food and Agriculture (Vol. 11, Issue 1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2025.2454354
Ojha, P., Ojha, P. K., Kalia, A., Kirti, Kumar, A., Singh, A., & Sarita. (2026). Climate Change Impacts on Global Biodiversity and Ecosystem Resilience: A Comprehensive Review. International Journal of Environment and Climate Change, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.9734/ijecc/2026/v16i15230
UN WOMEN. (2022). Explainer: How gender inequality and climate change are interconnected | UN Women – Headquarters. In Un Women (Issue February).