This article was first published in the City Press If coal mining is allowed to go ahead in the Mabola Protected Environment (MPE) near Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, it will result in a predictable form of environmental violence for local communities. The project will also lead to geographically dispersed and intergenerational environmental violence for South Africans,… continued
Today, as we mourn the one-year anniversary of the murder of environmental activist Fikile Ntshangase, we call on government, the private sector and civil society to come together to protect environmental defenders from intimidation and harm. One year ago today, on 22 October 2020 at 18:30, four gunmen arrived at Ntshangase’s house at Ophondweni near… continued
The Life After Coal campaign (comprising the environmental justice groups groundWork and Earthlife Africa, and public interest environmental law group the Centre for Environmental Rights) calls on South Africa to meet the lower bound of its new climate target range by accelerating the coal phase-out and renewable energy build, and to lead on demanding increased… continued
Women are also marginalised when it comes to the economic benefits that mining brings This article was first published in GroundUp Margaret Molomo has spent the last decade fighting against mining developments near her home of Mokopane in Limpopo. “Over the past ten years I have witnessed first-hand the harm that non-compliant mining has done… continued
New research from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that Eskom is now the largest emitter of health-harming sulfur dioxide (SO2) in the world. These findings stand in stark contrast to the World Health Organisation’s recently updated guidelines on ambient air quality and highlight the fact that unless Eskom complies… continued
The fifth edition of the Centre for Environmental Rights’ (CER) annual Rights & Remedies Course for environmental justice activists kicks off on 4 October 2021 with a theme of Women and Environmental Justice. Women in South Africa face multiple climate-related challenges. Not only does environmental degradation and climate change disproportionately affect women, but women are… continued
Two new expert reports explore what life in South Africa will be like over the course of the next 50 years if we continue with a business-as-usual approach to climate change. Their findings are unequivocal: unless we act now, climate change will become increasingly dangerous, for everyone. The reports, commissioned by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER)… continued
The Centre for Environmental Rights welcomes Cabinet’s decision to endorse more ambitious greenhouse gas emissions targets, but warns that only the lower limit of the approved range aligns with a fair share trajectory limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. Cabinet’s decision last week to approve a reduced target range for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in… continued
A letter of demand from environmental and climate justice groups calls on Minister Mantashe and NERSA to abandon plans to develop 1 500 MW of new coal-fired electricity or face legal action. The development of new coal-fired power is neither rational nor lawful, given the well-documented environmental, social, human health and economic impacts of new coal-powered… continued
A new report by community psychology expert, Dr Garret Barnwell, shows that climate change harms are already negatively impacting our mental well-being and these effects will only accelerate in the future, placing today’s youth and future generations in harm’s way. The findings of the report, commissioned by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) for the African Climate Alliance,… continued
As Women’s Month draws to a close, CER reflects on the role that gender-based violence (GBV) plays in preventing gender justice in South Africa and globally, the burden it places on women who are already disproportionately affected by environmental and climate injustice, and the threat it poses to women activists seeking leadership roles. We renew… continued
Objections submitted to National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of groundWork, urge the energy regulator to deny Karpowership’s applications for electricity generation licenses in recognition of the projects’ high costs, climate change impacts and lack of demonstrated ability to comply with environmental laws and deliver… continued
A new report by air pollution expert, Dr Ranajit Sahu, confirms that South Africa’s proposed 1500 MW of new coal-powered electricity generation will cause significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, even if the cleanest technology currently available is used. In 2019 the South African government proposed adding 1500 MW of new coal generation in the country, as part… continued
CER’s Chairperson and Non-Executive Director The CER Board is pleased to announce the appointment of non-executive director Nompi Ndawo Vilakazi as its new Chairperson. Nompi, a qualified chartered accountant (SA), has been a non-executive director of CER since June 2020 and has served as the Chairperson of its Finance & Audit Committee since September 2020. Nompi began her career at the Industrial Development Corporation… continued
The Centre for Environmental Rights, along with many other civil society organisations, urges Cabinet to adopt an update on South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement that is aligned with the target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This means adopting a target that is more ambitious than… continued
We find ourselves at a historic moment of compounding emergencies and time is of the essence. The lethargy of the past decade in implementing a sustainable energy policy, aggravated by pervasive corruption, has cost us the luxury of incremental change. Article originally published by Daily Maverick Earlier this month, political instigation allowed the powder keg… continued
A new draft guideline on assessing climate change impacts in licence approvals will promote the proper consideration of climate change in environmental decision-making – the subject of a successful litigation campaign brought by civil society. However, civil society group have urged government to broaden and strengthen the scope of the guideline. Civil society groups have… continued
A new grantmaking body is being established to provide funding and support to community-based organisations working for environmental and climate justice in South Africa. The new Environmental Justice Fund is a joint initiative of environmental justice groups groundWork, Earthlife Africa, the Centre for Environmental Rights, Womin, the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance, the South Durban Community… continued
The platform provides a step-by-step guide for residents to report violations occurring in their communities to the departments of Mineral Resources and Energy, Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, and Water and Sanitation Poor compliance with environmental laws has dire consequences for vulnerable communities who live adjacent to polluting industries and with poor service delivery. With… continued
Case study illustrates how public finance is being directed towards risky fossil fuel projects that can cause a myriad of negative social, environmental and climate impacts CAPE TOWN: A new report by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) questions the Industrial Development Corporation’s (IDC’s) decision to extend finance to coal company MC Mining Limited for… continued