To tackle the global economic impact of climate change, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Business School, in partnership with Glotan Research Services, is hosting a two-day Climate Change and Economic Management for a Sustainable Future Conference at Coastlands Umhlanga Hotel and Convention Centre in Durban, on Wednesday, 26 February 2025 and Thursday, 27 February 2025.

According to the Director of the DUT Business School, Professor Pfano Mashau, this international conference aims to address the global impact of climate change on economic management, providing a platform for discourse and collaboration. Prof Mashau will deliver the welcome address at the opening of the conference on Wednesday, 26 February 2025. Gracing the opening ceremony will be Dr Imtiaz Ismail Sooliman, Founder and Chairperson of the Gift of the Givers, who will deliver the keynote address. Dr Sooliman is also a member of the DUT family, having being conferred with an Honorary Doctorate in 2010.

Academics, students, researchers, Non-Government Organisations (NGO) practitioners, government officials, policymakers and other stakeholders, will assemble at the conference to discuss the impact of climate change and economic management. Amongst the sub-themes to be explored will be the global economic impacts of climate change, strategies for sustainable economic development in the face of climate change, climate change, finance and investment, mitigation and adaptation policies/programmes and their economic implications, technological advancements in combating climate change. Case studies from different regions on managing climate change and economic will also be highlighted at the conference as well as other topics pertaining to climate change.

The keynote speakers will be Prof Dr Thomas Dobbelstein, a Professor for market research from DUT and Head of the Department of Digital Business Management at Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University in Ravensburg, Germany. Professor Cristina Trois, Director of the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies at Stellenbosch University. Makoma Lekalakala, Director of Earthlife Africa JHB, an environmental justice activist anti-nuclear organisation. Professor JV Mensah, a Professor of Development Economics at the School for Development Studies, University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana. Lastly, sharing his expertise will be Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of United Nations University and Under-Secretary, United Nations.

Postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, lecturers and senior scholars who will be presenting at the conference will obtain an opportunity to publish their papers in any of the four accredited journals namely, African Renaissance, Journal of African Affairs, Ayika: Journal of Environment and Politics in Africa and Africa and Global Issues Quarterly.

Pictured: DUT Business School Director, Professor Pfano Mashau.

Simangele Zuma