A Call for Public Health Leadership in Building a Post-COVID-19 South Africa

A letter from the Climate Energy and Health Special Interest Group of the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) to the Minister of Health, urging public health leadership to ensure a just and green recovery from COVID-19 that addresses the climate crisis and transitions away from fossil fuels.

• The Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) argues that air pollution from fossil fuels increases coronavirus mortality, particularly for individuals with pre-existing morbidity. The document highlights that air pollution in the Mpumalanga Highveld is among the worst globally due to coal-fired power stations and the failure to enforce air quality management plans and standards.
• PHASA urges the South African government to avoid returning to 'normal' economic patterns that damage ecological systems. They call for a 'healthy recovery' based on several international and national demands, including the World Federation of Public Health Associations' (WFPHA) July 2020 resolution to stop opening new coal mines, accelerate the closure of existing ones, and transition to clean renewable energy.
• The letter emphasizes the role of the Presidential Climate Change Commission in driving a just transition and recovery. PHASA requests the terms of reference for the Commission, which Minister Barbara Creecy indicated were being finalized as of June 1, 2020, so that the PHASA group can offer support.
• PHASA advocates for a people-centred recovery that prioritizes public health and a low-carbon energy system to overcome existing inequalities, aligning with the 'Just Recovery' report's principle of 'Putting People’s Health First'.

APA

Centre for Environmental Rights (2020). A Call for Public Health Leadership in Building a Post-COVID-19 South Africa. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHASA-CEH-letter-Minister-of-Health_July-18-2020.pdf?x21779

Chicago

Centre for Environmental Rights. A Call for Public Health Leadership in Building a Post-COVID-19 South Africa. 2020. https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHASA-CEH-letter-Minister-of-Health_July-18-2020.pdf?x21779.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Centre for Environmental Rights |title=A Call for Public Health Leadership in Building a Post-COVID-19 South Africa |date=18 July 2020 |url=https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHASA-CEH-letter-Minister-of-Health_July-18-2020.pdf?x21779 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centreforenvironmentalrights2020call, author = {{Centre for Environmental Rights}}, title = {{A Call for Public Health Leadership in Building a Post-COVID-19 South Africa}}, publisher = {Centre for Environmental Rights}, year = {2020}, month = jul, url = {https://cer.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHASA-CEH-letter-Minister-of-Health_July-18-2020.pdf?x21779}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }