IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Ahead of ArcelorMittal South Africa (AMSA)’s 2024 AGM, the Centre of Environmental Rights (CER) publishes a new report highlighting the responsibility of stakeholders in AMSA’s steel value chain. The report, titled “ArcelorMittal and the Responsibility of Stakeholders in the Steel Value Chain“, highlights the pivotal role of AMSA’s stakeholders across the steel value… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DATE: 10 May 2024 The Life After Coal campaign, consisting of groundWork, Earthlife Africa and the Centre for Environmental Rights, as well as Vukani Environmental Justice Movement, the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, condemn the 5 April 2024 decision by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 30 April 2024 As South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, the nation also rejoices in the the long-awaited Climate Change Act, (currently on the President’s desk for assent) heralding it as a critically important instrument to define, manage, monitor, and implement the nation’s response to climate change challenges. Years in the… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 25 April, 2024 In a significant development, the High Court has issued an order to join the Minister of Electricity as a fifth respondent in the ongoing #CancelCoal case. This decision follows a joinder application submitted by the applicants, citing the Minister’s pivotal role in determining new generation capacity. It is anticipated… continued
On Friday, 19 April 2024, The Centre for Environmental Rights, in partnership with Naturskyddsföreningen (SSNC) and South African organisations Earthlife Africa, Environmental Monitoring Group, and groundWork, hosted a webinar to launch a joint report, titled “A Gender Just Climate Transition.” The report deals with the interplay between gender and environmental justice, drawing on work examples… continued
On 16 April 2024 a coalition of environmental justice organisations, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), will appear in another High Court hearing in the ongoing nine-year legal battle to prevent coal mining in a Protected Area and Strategic Water Source Area near Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga. The application, to be heard in the… continued
The Life After Coal Campaign, a joint environmental justice campaign by Earthlife Africa (“ELA”), groundWork (“gW”), and the Centre for Environmental Rights (“CER”), along with Black Girls Rising (“BGR”) have submitted comments on the Draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2023. The submission highlights fundamental flaws and skepticism in the plans’ ability to ensure cost-effective electricity… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has launched a new report that explores liability and accountability of emitters, particularly major greenhouse gas emitting entities in the context of climate change loss and damage. The report is based on the major flooding that took place in KZN in April 2022. The unprecedented rainfall and… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 11 March 2023 Environmental justice groups groundWork and the South Durban community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), filed a review application in February 2024. The review challenges the Minister’s decision to uphold an environmental authorisation that was granted in November 2022 to the proposed 2000 MW… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 23 November 2023 Environmental and social justice organisations groundWork (gW) and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA), represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) have submitted an appeal against the environmental authorisation (EA) granted to the project in October 2023. The appeal is directed to Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE 16 November 2023 The latest Global Oil and Gas Exit List (GOGEL) just published by Urgewald, tells a damning story of the oil and gas industry, which continues to support new oil and gas projects in the midst of our climate emergency. The updated GOGEL is supported by the Life after Coal Campaign… continued
Media Advisory DATE: 14 November 2023 Today, another High Court review application by the coalition of environmental justice organisations, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), will be heard in the ongoing eight-year legal battle to prevent coal mining in a Protected Area and Strategic Water Source Area near Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga. The case… continued
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 2 November 2023 Cape Town, South Africa — The recent passing of the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill (B13B-2021) by the National Assembly marks a significant development in the regulation of petroleum resources. The bill’s primary objective is to separate the oversight of petroleum resources from that of mineral resources, both… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 1 November 2023 Cape Town- Civil society is concerned about National Treasury’s delay in releasing crucial information relevant to the future of coal-fired power plants in South Africa. Treasury announced in February this year that it had commissioned an independent review of Eskom’s 14 coal-fired power plants and that the review would… continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 26 October 2023 CONTACT: Lerato Balendran, CER Head of Communications, [email protected] The Life after Coal campaign welcomes the passing of the Climate Change Bill in the National Assembly, paving the way for it to go to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence. Once agreed to there, it can be signed into… continued
Immediate Release Date: 19th October 2023 Media Contact: Tsepang Molefe: +27 74 405 1257, [email protected]; Lerato Balendran: +27 79 071 7442, [email protected] Civil society movements gather to call for the protection of human rights defenders and whistleblowers In the wake of unprecedented threats, attacks and assassinations of community land and climate justice activists, and whistleblowers… continued
On September 22, 2023, the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) proudly hosted the graduation ceremony of the 7th edition of our annual Environmental Rights and Remedies Course, marking a significant milestone as we celebrated having trained over 100 community activists from across South Africa. This year’s class of 2023 was a testament to our commitment… continued
On September 5th, the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) proudly launched the 7th edition of the Rights and Remedies Course for environmental justice activists, welcoming 14 dedicated environmental and climate activists from various parts of the country, to embark on a journey of empowerment and knowledge-sharing at this year’s Rights and Remedies course. The theme… continued
In a significant development, South Africa’s first youth-led climate change case, the #CancelCoal campaign, has taken a new turn with the inclusion of the Minister of Electricity. The case challenges the government’s decision to procure 1500 MW of new coal-fired power, highlighting the adverse climate impacts of burning coal and its implications for constitutional rights…. continued
IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, and the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO), are being taken to court for granting steelmaker Arcelor Mittal South Africa (AMSA) permission to continue polluting the Vaal Triangle and surrounding areas with excessive amounts of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S). Social and environmental justice groups Vaal Environmental Justice… continued