Wits Inter-Faculty Symposium on Climate, Sustainability, and Inequality
The Wits Inter-Faculty Symposium on Climate, Sustainability, and Inequality brought together academics, researchers, and practitioners from across the university to engage on pressing global and local challenges. Over two days, sessions covered climate transitions, conservation and biodiversity, data-driven research, climate justice, water security, disaster risk, and climate change in public health. The programme also featured a Dean’s dialogue on collaborative research futures.
The symposium provided a platform for interdisciplinary knowledge exchange, highlighting both the complexity of the climate crisis and the urgent need for collaborative solutions, especially at universities, which play a pivotal role in advancing both scholarship and action.
Dr Samiksha Singh from the Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) presented on “Perceptions of Water Quality Disparities in Gauteng: Insights from the Quality of Life 7 Survey (2023/24).” While official reports suggest Gauteng’s water is safe, survey data from over 13,000 residents revealed significant disparities. Respondents in Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Emfuleni, along with women and those in informal housing, reported poorer water quality. Strong links were found between perceived poor water quality and experiences of water pollution or waterborne diseases, particularly among residents relying on rainwater tanks or communal standpipes. Findings showed that although access to water remains high, perceptions of cleanliness and satisfaction are declining, interruptions are increasing, and more residents fear Gauteng may run out of water.
These results underscore the urgency of addressing inequalities in service delivery to ensure equitable access to safe, reliable water. The symposium not only showcased critical research but also fostered a deeper dialogue on how institutions, policymakers, and communities can collectively respond to the intertwined challenges of climate, sustainability, and inequality.