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This document is an appeal filed by groundWork and Earthlife Africa against decisions made by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) on 30 October 2021. The appeal disputes the granting of compliance postponements and suspensions regarding Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for several Eskom coal-fired power stations, arguing that these decisions violate the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (AQA), the 2017 National Framework for Air Quality Management, and the Constitution of South Africa.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for Earthlife Africa and groundWork, has formally raised concerns regarding the notification process and timelines for appealing the National Air Quality Officer's (NAQO) October 2021 decisions on Eskom's applications for postponement or suspension of compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES).

This Appeal Response Report, submitted by Eskom Holdings SOC Limited to the Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), appeals the National Air Quality Officer's (NAQO) decisions regarding applications for postponements from the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for various coal-fired power stations.

This document is an appeal response report filed by groundWork and Earthlife Africa, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, challenging decisions made by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) regarding Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. The appellants argue that granting postponements and suspensions of compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for several coal-fired power stations in the Highveld Priority Area is unlawful and violates environmental laws and constitutional rights to health.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzes the adoption of electric school buses (ESBs) in the United States as of March 31, 2022. It tracks 'committed' buses—those awarded funding, ordered, delivered, or in operation—highlighting a significant increase in commitments driven by large-scale contracts and specific funding sources like the Volkswagen Settlement. The report also examines the distribution of these buses across different demographics and pollution levels to assess the equity of the transition.

This final synthesis report by the Centre for Environmental Rights provides strategic and technical guidance on managing sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions from old solid fuel combustion plants in South Africa, specifically focusing on Eskom and Sasol facilities. The report utilizes a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) to recommend minimum emission standards (MES) based on plant lifetime and economic viability, concluding that reducing SO2 emissions is technologically feasible and provides significant net societal benefits through improved public health and macroeconomic growth.

This case study describes the Green Corridors programme in Medellín, Colombia, which implemented urban vegetation to combat rising temperatures and improve public health and air quality between 2016 and 2019.

The report 'The Road to Sustainable Transport' examines the environmental and social impacts of global transportation, the evolution of international policy from the 1972 Stockholm Conference to the Sustainable Development Goals, and case studies of sustainable urban mobility. It highlights the role of public transit, non-motorized transport, and electrification in reducing carbon emissions and improving public health, while noting the potential for post-COVID-19 recovery packages to accelerate these transitions.

This statement from the World Resources Institute advocates for the electrification of the United States school bus fleet to protect children's health, address environmental inequities, and stimulate domestic manufacturing. It specifically supports the Clean Commute for Kids Act and the American Jobs Plan to overcome the high initial procurement costs of electric buses.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the regulatory landscape of air quality in Thailand, identifying a disconnect between the government's announced measures and their actual enforcement.

This briefing from the Global Climate and Health Alliance examines the public health threats posed by bushfire smoke in Australia, specifically focusing on the 2019-20 'Black Summer' fires. It highlights the gap between emergency fire response and the lack of preparation for prolonged smoke exposure, while advocating for the integration of Indigenous fire management and a transition away from fossil fuel subsidies to mitigate future climate-driven wildfire risks.

This executive summary from the Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) examines the health threats posed by smoke from forest fires and bushfires, which are increasingly driven or fueled by climate change. It details the acute health risks to vulnerable populations, provides case studies from Canada, Australia, and Brazil, and recommends urgent forest protection, health system adaptation, and global climate action to limit warming to 1.5°C.

This executive summary from the Global Climate and Health Alliance examines the health impacts of wildfire smoke, highlighting events in the Amazon, Australia, and Canada. It details how smoke pollutants affect vulnerable populations and calls for immediate forest protection, improved health risk adaptation, and global climate action to limit warming to 1.5°C.

This executive summary from the Global Climate and Health Alliance examines the emerging threat of wildfire smoke and climate change on human health, focusing on case studies from Canada, Australia, and Brazil.

A statement from the Life After Coal campaign (LAC) to the South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, objecting to Eskom's attempts to seek exemptions from the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004.

A legal notice from MacRobert Inc, acting on behalf of ArcelorMittal South Africa (Pty) Ltd (AMSA), addressed to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries regarding an appeal filed by the Centre for Environmental Rights. The notice argues that the appeal against the postponement of compliance timeframes for Minimum Emission Standards at the Vanderbijlpark facility was submitted late and is therefore invalid unless condonation is granted.

This research paper describes the Low Emissions Analysis Platform – Integrated Benefits Calculator (LEAP-IBC), a modelling framework designed to help low- and middle-income countries quantify the simultaneous impacts of policies on air quality, human health, and climate change. The tool was applied to Bangladesh to evaluate the combined effects of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Action Plan to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs).

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) and groundWork, has filed a formal appeal to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries against a decision to partially grant ArcelorMittal SA Vanderbijlpark Steel Works (AMSA) a postponement of compliance time-frames for Minimum Emission Standards (MES) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004.

A letter from groundWork Trust confirming the appointment of the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) as its attorneys of record to appeal a decision regarding ArcelorMittal’s Vanderbijlpark facility.

The Life After Coal campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), groundWork (gW), and Earthlife Africa (ELA), submitted formal objections on 28 August 2020 against Eskom's applications for alternative emission limits at the Medupi and Matimba power stations. The campaign argues that these requests are an unlawful attempt to circumvent South Africa's Minimum Emission Standards (MES) and violate constitutional rights to a healthy environment.