Centre for Environmental Rights – Advancing Environmental Rights in South Africa

Civil society coalition appeals approval for Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone and demands DFFE intervention

20 April 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 20 April, 2022 In light of the deeply flawed environmental authorisation process and unresolved conflict of interest of major decision makers, a coalition of civil society organisations has appealed the decision to allow the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) project to proceed. The coalition has also called on Environment Minister Barbara Creecy… continued

ANALYSIS: Why the #DeadlyAir High Court judgment matters

13 April 2022

The recent “Deadly Air” High Court judgment, which declared that chronic air pollution is a violation of Constitutional rights, has important implications for communities forced to live with the debilitating effects of air pollution on the Mpumalanga Highveld, and more broadly for constitutional jurisprudence and government accountability. Here we unpack parts of the judgment and… continued

Government’s move to appeal parts of High Court win risks delaying action on air pollution 

12 April 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 14 April 2022 Environmental justice groups behind recent landmark High Court victory in #DeadlyAir case are disappointed to learn of Minister Creecy’s decision to appeal parts of the judgment. The Minister’s decision to apply for leave to appeal risks further delaying concrete action being taken to reduce harmful air pollution on the Mpumalanga Highveld…. continued

MELISSA FOURIE: Air pollution judgment rings the death knell for coal

31 March 2022

Article originally published by Business Live For too long we have sacrificed the health, lives and prospects of people living on the Highveld and other pollution hotspots in the interest of our outdated reliance on fossil fuels. The recent “Deadly Air” court judgment in the Pretoria high court may just be the straw that finally… continued

Major court victory for communities fighting air pollution in Mpumalanga Highveld  

18 March 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18 March 2022 Today environmental justice groups celebrate a landmark judgment in the #DeadlyAir case as a victory for environmental justice in South Africa with far-reaching consequences. In the judgment, the High Court has recognised the poor air quality in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Highveld region as a breach of residents’ Constitutional right to… continued

What you should know about proposed new rules for financial provision for mining rehabilitation

10 March 2022

In this short article we take a look at what financial provision for rehabilitation of environmental damage caused by mining is, and some important proposed changes in the 2021 proposed Financial Provisioning Regulations. We also look at how mining-affected communities can use this law to hold mining companies accountable for environmental rehabilitation. By: Dimakatso Sefatsa,… continued

International Women’s Day: Meet the women fighting against #DeadlyAir 

8 March 2022

Global air pollution now causes seven million deaths around the world each year, with over 90% of these deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries. In South Africa, home to the worst sulphur dioxide emitting power company in the world, a 2017 expert report estimated that ambient air pollution causes 2,200 premature deaths annually.   For… continued

Making a charitable donation this tax year? Support climate justice and climate action with a charitable donation 

25 February 2022

If you are thinking of making a tax deductible donation to a worthy cause before the end of the tax year, please consider supporting the work of the Centre for Environmental Rights to accelerate climate action and a just transition to a more equal, climate resilient, fossil-free future.  As we enter the third year of… continued

CER welcomes progress of Climate Bill in Parliament, calls for robust climate law

24 February 2022

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) welcomes the tabling of the Climate Change Bill in Parliament last week. We now urge lawmakers to ensure that the bill evolves towards being the robust, comprehensive and enforceable legal framework that South Africa needs if it is to mount an adequate response to climate change. This Bill must… continued

New legal challenges to Eskom’s ongoing air pollution

16 February 2022

The Life After Coal campaign has submitted an appeal to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment challenging decisions to grant further leniency to Eskom for its failure to meet air pollution standards. In October 2021, the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment issued a series… continued

South African Constitutional Court to hear landmark SLAPP defamation and free speech case

14 February 2022

MEDIA ADVISORY: WHAT: Constitutional Court hearing WHEN: 09:30 SAST on Thursday, 17 February 2022 WHERE: The hearing will be livestreamed on the Constitutional Court’s Youtube Channel On Thursday, 17 February 2022, the South African Constitutional Court will hear a landmark case on so-called “SLAPP suits”, or Strategic Litigation against Public Participation. The case arises from… continued

The lie of limitless economic progress

13 December 2021

The tension between the state’s duty to protect the environment and its duty to promote economic development often plays out as an unhelpful binary opposition characterised by the idea that if you are for the environment, you must be against development. In fact, this narrative obscures the fact that limitless economic development is incompatible with… continued

2021: While the pandemic drags on, climate action picks up pace

7 December 2021

2021 has been the second year of navigating the unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic. Much has been lost and endured during the past two years. We acknowledge the incredible resilience and grit shown by CER staff and by environmental and climate justice activists across the country this year – continuing to stand up and fight for… continued

Rights and Remedies Class of 2021: “We are ready to take action!”

23 November 2021

Last week 15 environmental activists graduated from CER’s annual Environmental Rights and Remedies for Activists training course. Here they reflect on the specific challenges facing women activists in South Africa and the need for human rights defenders to be empowered to act against environmental law violations. Lihle Mbokazi, an environmental activist and human rights defender… continued

No time left: Sasol faces the heat for inadequate climate change commitments at its AGM

19 November 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 19 NOVEMBER 2021 Environmental groups and shareholder activists once again joined Sasol’s AGM to challenge the fossil fuel giant for its lacklustre climate commitments and inadequate detail in its climate change strategy. Activists protest outside Sasol head offices in Sandton, Johannesburg   Pic: LifeAfterCoal JOHANNESBURG: Civil society organisations and shareholder activists confronted Sasol… continued

Carbon criminal Sasol shows no real signs of reforming dirty operations

18 November 2021

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE 18 November 2021 Calls for Sasol to make feasible plans and take urgent action for a shift away from dirty fossil fuels Civil society organisations, shareholders, environmental activists, and affected communities are set to confront Sasol at their annual general meeting on Friday 19 November 2021. Sasol, one of the biggest climate… continued

Youth-led #CancelCoal climate case launched against government’s plans for new coal-fired power 

17 November 2021

Three civil society organisations this week launched landmark constitutional litigation in the North Gauteng High Court against the South African government, demanding that it abandon plans to build 1 500 MW of new coal-fired power on grounds that new coal-fired power poses significant unjustifiable threats to constitutional rights. The burning of coal is the biggest contributor… continued

New coal power will cost South Africans much more, report shows

15 November 2021

Expert analyses completed by the Energy Systems Research Group (ESRG) at the University of Cape Town and the Climate Equity Reference Project (CERP) have found that government’s plans to procure 1500 MW of new coal-powered electricity will cost at least R23-billion more than a least-cost optimal electricity plan for SA and will result in 25 000… continued

Constitutional Court dismisses coal mining company’s bid to start mining

11 November 2021

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Civil society coalition welcomes the Constitutional Court decision to dismiss coal mining company Uthaka Energy’s leave to appeal a 2021 High Court interdict, preventing the company from commencing mining in a Strategic Water Source Area.  The Constitutional Court’s decision leaves intact a Pretoria High Court interdict granted earlier this year, which prevents Uthaka… continued

We don’t have to ‘sell nature to save it’

4 November 2021

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