Search Climate Insights Directory

The document outlines the South African government's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and a September 2020 determination to procure 1500MW of new coal-fired electricity from independent power producers. It argues that this decision negatively impacts public health, the climate, and electricity costs, while advocating for a transition to cheaper, cleaner renewable energy sources.

The Eskom Air Quality Strategy (April 2020) outlines a phased approach to reducing atmospheric emissions from its power stations to comply with South African legislation and maintain its licence to operate. The strategy focuses on particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and mercury, utilizing a combination of operational improvements, emission abatement retrofits, and air quality offsets.

This document is an excerpt from Eskom's Air Quality Improvement Plan, detailing the strategy to reduce particulate and gaseous emissions from its power stations. It outlines a phased and prioritised approach to compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES), focusing on retrofitting the highest emitting and newest stations first. The plan identifies critical constraints including funding, water availability on the Highveld, and skilled human resources, while proposing air quality offsets in vulnerable communities to mitigate local pollution.

This report provides a wetland ecological assessment for Phase 1 of the proposed ATHA Yzermyn underground coal mine in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Conducted by Scientific Aquatic Services (SAS), the study evaluates the Present Ecological State (PES), Ecological Importance and Sensitivity (EIS), and potential impacts of mining activities on local wetland systems, including channelled valley bottoms and hillslope seeps.

The document identifies risks to various wetland systems and seep wetlands caused by underground mining, specifically the formation of a groundwater cone of dewatering. It proposes mitigation strategies including monitoring, grouting, and the treatment of decant water post-closure.

The document outlines the severe climate risks facing Southern Africa, noting that warming in the region's interior is occurring at approximately twice the global average rate. It projects reductions in agricultural production and freshwater availability, an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves and severe storms, and a higher risk of long-duration droughts. The text highlights that these risks are significantly exacerbated in 'low mitigation futures' where global warming exceeds 3 °C, compared to scenarios limiting warming to 1.5 °C or 2 °C. Specific vulnerabilities include food insecurity, which affected 6.5 million South Africans in 2019, and the threat of extinction for thousands of species.

The assessment concludes that the Yzermyn underground coal mine is 'fatally flawed' from a biodiversity perspective and recommends a 'NO GO' decision. The project is located in a highly sensitive area, including the Enkangala Grassland Important Bird Area (IBA) and several Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs). Key risks include the potential for extensive wetland loss or deterioration due to groundwater drawdown (cones of depression) and long-term groundwater contamination from acid mine drainage (AMD) post-closure. The report highlights a significant disconnect between the findings of independent specialists—who identify high-significance impacts and irreplaceable habitats—and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), which downplays these risks by focusing narrowly on the surface infrastructure footprint. The assessment notes that the project threatens numerous 'Conservation Important' (CI) species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

The Yzermyn Groundwater Model simulates the impact of mine workings on two aquifer systems. While the deeper fractured aquifer shows a zone of impact extending approximately 2 km downstream, significant drawdowns over 20m are limited to the area immediately above the mine. The model suggests that a steady-state cone of dewatering is an unlikely worst-case scenario given the 15-year mine life. However, groundwater-dependent ecosystems and springs within the shallow aquifer's dewatering zone, limited to site boundaries, may be negatively impacted or dry up.

The document details how plastic production and disposal contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, projecting that by 2050, these emissions could consume 10 to 13 percent of the remaining carbon budget. It identifies four main emission phases: raw material extraction and transport, refining and manufacturing, waste disposal, and the degradation of plastic in the environment. The report emphasizes that current climate models often underestimate these impacts and argues that the only effective solution is an immediate reduction in the production and use of plastics, alongside a halt to new petrochemical infrastructure.

The report details how the hazardous materials in e-waste—including lead, mercury, and cadmium—violate fundamental human rights such as the right to life, health, and food. It highlights the severe health consequences for workers and children in informal recycling sectors, particularly in China, India, Ghana, and the Philippines, where archaic recovery methods lead to systemic toxic exposure.

The report details how the lifecycle of electronic products, characterized by rapid obsolescence and the use of toxic materials, leads to severe human rights violations. It highlights the presence of hazardous substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium in e-waste and documents the resulting health crises in informal recycling hubs, particularly in China, India, Ghana, and the Philippines. The document argues that unregulated recycling practices violate the rights to life, health, adequate food, and safe working conditions, disproportionately affecting children and marginalized populations.

The document describes the global plastic pollution crisis as a systemic failure driven by increasing production and inadequate waste management. It highlights the environmental and health impacts across land and sea, specifically noting that plastics are projected to account for nearly 20% of total oil consumption and over 10% of the global 1.5°C carbon budget by 2050. The author advocates for a legally binding international framework focusing on reducing production and consumption, eliminating toxic additives, rejecting 'false solutions' like waste-to-energy incineration, and investing in zero waste city models.

The report details how plastic production and incineration contribute significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions across four lifecycle stages: extraction and transport, refining and manufacture, waste management, and environmental degradation. It warns that by 2050, cumulative emissions from plastic could consume 10-13% of the remaining carbon budget, potentially making the 1.5°C climate target impossible to achieve. The document advocates for an immediate reduction in plastic production and the cessation of new petrochemical infrastructure to mitigate these impacts.

The document details the environmental and health impacts of the fossil fertilizer supply chain, noting that 58% of global production is powered by fossil fuels (primarily gas). It links these inputs to cancer, respiratory illness, and the creation of marine dead zones, while highlighting nitrous oxide as a potent greenhouse gas. The authors propose phasing out synthetic fertilizers in favor of agroecological practices to support a global population of 10 billion.

The document details how offshore oil and gas activities—from exploration to decommissioning—damage marine ecosystems and coastal communities, highlighting specific risks like noise pollution, chemical contamination, and invasive species across various global hotspots.

The LIFE-A2J-EARL project focused on reducing the 'implementation deficit' of EU environmental law, which is estimated to cost approximately €50 billion annually. To address this, the project provided training, legal toolkits, and a comprehensive guide on access to justice to judiciary members, public authorities, and NGOs across nine EU countries. Key outputs included the development of national toolkits for eight countries and a 'Guide on Access to Justice in European Union Law'. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the project exceeded its training targets, reaching 2,090 participants through workshops, training sessions, and webinars, and attracting 285 attendees to a virtual international conference. The project's digital outreach included 163 website articles and a newsletter with over 700 subscribers. Socio-economic impacts identified include increased knowledge of the Aarhus Convention, enhanced cooperation between stakeholders, and the empowerment of NGOs to challenge decisions breaching environmental legislation.

The report finds that the COVID-19 lockdown led to a significant reduction in air pollution in Bengaluru, primarily due to a sharp decline in motorized transportation. Analysis of 26 monitoring stations showed an average 28% drop in PM2.5 levels, while satellite data indicated a 40% reduction in NO2. The most significant decrease occurred near Bellandur Lake (75%), attributed to the halt of construction and vehicular movement. Conversely, the lowest reduction was seen near Halasuru Hospital (14%), likely due to continued essential hospital visits. The study concludes that the transportation sector is the primary driver of air pollution in the city and recommends shifting to electric vehicles, enhancing public transport, and promoting non-motorized transportation to maintain breathable air quality.

The report details how fossil fuel production and use cause systemic health damage across all human life stages and geographic regions, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. It maps these impacts from site preparation and extraction to combustion and waste disposal, highlighting the role of pollutants like PM2.5, benzene, and heavy metals. The document also examines the societal harms of the industry, including forced displacements, human rights violations, and political corruption. It concludes by advocating for a 'just transition' that prioritizes public health, eliminates fossil fuel subsidies, and holds polluters accountable through the 'polluter-pays' principle.

The report 'Do berço ao túmulo' (From Cradle to Grave) by the Global Climate and Health Alliance details how fossil fuels cause systemic health damage at every stage of their life cycle. It highlights the disproportionate burden on marginalized communities and the 'sacrifice zones' created by industrial pollution. The document argues that the current energy system creates a 'triple crisis' of environmental devastation, widespread human health impairment, and instability in health systems. It calls for a just transition that prioritizes public health, eliminates fossil fuel subsidies, and holds polluters accountable through the 'polluter pays' principle.

The document highlights how permafrost thaw and extreme weather are damaging critical infrastructure in Northern Canada, including airstrips, residential buildings, and winter roads. It advocates for transformational adaptation—rethinking infrastructure design and funding—to ensure reliable transport, habitable housing, and food security for northern communities.