Tipping Points 21 - People, places and planet at the polls

Introduction: 00:00 - 01:32
Panelist introduction: 01:32 - 03:25
Overview of the political landscape: 03:25 - 05:20
Dr Alex Lenferna: 05:20 - 13:23
Dr Ferrial Adam: 13:23 - 28:53
Q&A: 28:53 - 52:10
Closing remarks 52:10 - 54:22
Julia Evans - fasciliator
Julia is a climate and biodiversity journalist at the largest specialist climate investigative unit in Africa, Daily Maverick’s ‘Our Burning Planet’. She speaks to engineers and professors about the physical science of climate change and communities on the ground about the impacts to inform the public in accessible terms about the biggest threat humanity currently faces and expose the influential relationship between bad governance and climate change and conservation.
Dr Ferrial Adam - panelist
Over the past 20 years Ferrial Adam has been an environmental justice activist in South Africa. Her work in environmental justice organisations such as Earthlife Africa and Greenpeace Africa have afforded her the ability to understand government, human rights, politics and environment from a grassroots lens. She currently is the Executive Manager of WaterCAN, an initiative to build citizen science activism that empowers civil society through water testing and monitoring thereby driving corrective actions through accountability and advocacy. Adam holds a BSc (geology) degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, an MPhil in Environmental Management from the University of Cape Town, and a PhD from the University of Johannesburg where she explored the topic of ‘Citizen Science and Environmental Justice in South Africa’s Water Sector’. This topic emerged from her work on the ground and the recognition that in many environmental justice struggles, the science and environmental information can build community organisations and power to challenge corporations and government.
Dr Alex Lenferna - panelist
Dr Alex Lenferna is a post-doctoral research fellow at Nelson Mandela University in the Department of Development Studies - on a National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences Fellowship. He is also the elected General Secretary and co-founder of the Climate Justice Coalition - a South African coalition of civil society, grassroots, , trade union and community-based organisations working together to advance a transformative climate justice agenda. Alex is a first generation South African whose family hails from the small island nation of Mauritius. He has dedicated over fifteen years to research, writing, teaching, and activism on climate justice.
About Tipping Points
Guided by Oppenheimer Generations Research and Conservation’s approach of asking the questions that matter, this solutions-based webinar series explores how we can step back from environmental tipping points and foster a sustainable future for both Africa’s people and nature. Every month thought leaders, disruptors, and researchers gather to address key questions for Africa’s future through an exploration of African environmental research, conservation, sustainability, and development. Complex challenges have no quick fixes. Inclusive conversation that shares perspectives, uplifts African narratives, challenges conservation paradigms, and interrogates possible paths of action is critical in navigating complicated, interconnected issues.
Join the conversation every month! Find out more about OGRC at ogresearchconservation.org/