WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October - 1 November 2018

The Life After Coal Campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights, groundWork, and Earthlife Africa, urged the South African National Department of Health to participate in the WHO's First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health (30 October - 1 November 2018). The letter asserts that air quality in South Africa frequently exceeds ambient air quality standards (AAQS), particularly in the Highveld, Mpumalanga, and Waterberg-Bojanala priority areas, and that the Vaal Triangle Airshed and Highveld Priority Areas remain at dangerous exposure levels despite being declared priority areas over a decade ago. The campaign notes that South African AAQS are significantly weaker than the WHO's 2005 guidelines. Citing a 2016 report by Dr Mike Holland, the letter states that PM2.5 emissions from Eskom's coal-fired power stations alone cause 2,239 deaths per year, including 1,110 from ischaemic heart disease and 157 from lung cancer, with total associated economic costs exceeding USD2 billion annually. The document identifies Eskom and Sasol as the country's largest emitters of regulated criteria pollutants.

• Air quality in South Africa consistently exceeds the national ambient air quality standards (AAQS), with the most severe issues occurring in the Highveld, Mpumalanga, and Waterberg-Bojanala priority areas. Despite declarations made over ten years ago to reduce pollution, the Highveld Priority Areas and Vaal Triangle Airshed continue to have dangerous exposure levels.
• South Africa's ambient air quality standards are significantly less stringent than the 2005 guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation.
• Eskom and Sasol are identified as the primary emitters of regulated criteria pollutants in South Africa, with coal-fired power generation serving as a major source of both air pollution and climate change contributions.
• A 2016 assessment by Dr Mike Holland found that PM2.5 emissions from Eskom's coal-fired power stations result in 2,239 annual deaths, 2,379 annual hospital admissions, and 996,628 lost working days per year, with total economic costs surpassing USD2 billion annually.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2018). WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October - 1 November 2018. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/LAC-letter-to-Min-DoH-WHO-First-Global-Conference.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October - 1 November 2018. 2018. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/LAC-letter-to-Min-DoH-WHO-First-Global-Conference.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October - 1 November 2018 |date=20 August 2018 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/LAC-letter-to-Min-DoH-WHO-First-Global-Conference.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2018whos, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{WHO’s First Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, 30 October - 1 November 2018}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2018}, month = aug, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/LAC-letter-to-Min-DoH-WHO-First-Global-Conference.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }