Indigenous knowledge systems are bodies of knowledge that were developed and used by local communities for centuries. They shape how people understand their environment, solve problems, and live sustainably. Bennet Siyabonga Madonsela, environmental scientist and Indigenous knowledge systems researcher, explains how these systems can help the world adapt to climate change, and what South Africa, as 2025 president of the G20 group of most powerful economies, should do to promote them.
What are Indigenous knowledge systems?
Indigenous knowledge systems are sets of knowledge that were developed long ago and passed down through the generations in various ways, including through stories, myths, songs, proverbs, rituals, drama and dances.
