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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, submitted detailed comments on the Climate Change Bill, 2018. The CER argues that the Bill focuses too heavily on government bureaucracy and fails to address the urgency of the climate crisis or provide sufficient mechanisms for holding emitters accountable. Key recommendations include setting a strict, legally binding emissions trajectory aligned with the Paris Agreement, ensuring full public disclosure of carbon budgets and GHG reports, and establishing independent oversight and appeals bodies.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of groundwork and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, submitted a formal appeal on 1 March 2016 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs. The appeal challenges the integrated environmental authorisation issued on 5 February 2016 for the construction of the 1050MW Colenso coal-fired power station and its associated infrastructure in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Minister of Environmental Affairs of South Africa has decided to set aside an Environmental Authorisation (EA) previously granted for the construction of the 1050MW Colenso coal-fired power station and associated infrastructure in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The decision refers the matter back to the Department for reconsideration due to specific inaccuracies and deficiencies in the EA, including premature conditions and missing technical documentation.

This Appeal Response Report details the legal dispute regarding the authorization of the 1050MW Colenso Coal Fired Power Station. The document lists five grounds of appeal raised by Groundwork and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, alleging failures to comply with the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), EIA Regulations, and Constitutional requirements, and provides the responding statements from the Department/DMR denying these failures.