Hub of expertise: (From left) Profs Bruce Hewitson, Mark New and Harald Winkler address the media.

Just hours prior to the arrival of the Prince of Wales at UCT on Saturday 5 November, the university formally introduced its new African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) and its director and pro vice-chancellor for climate change, Professor Mark New, to the media. The ACDI is envisioned as a "multi-disciplinary, cross-university research, teaching and outreach programme that will address the challenges that climate change presents for Africa's economic, political, social and natural environment", New explained.

The initiative will draw on expertise from around the university and become a "hub for world-class research and training", he added. But as befits its name, it is seen as an initiative that is of relevance to Africa as a whole, with the long-term aim of being a major hub in a network of such universities and research institutes tackling climate change on the continent. "African researchers and young scholars will find opportunities in the ACDI to contribute to the body of knowledge around [climate change] issues and bring their own perspectives to possible solutions," New said.