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Clean Air, Healthy Lives
The report 'Clean Air, Healthy Lives' outlines a strategic framework for health ministries to address the global air pollution crisis, which causes 7 million premature deaths annually. It advocates for the use of Health Impact Assessments (HIA) and tools like WHO's AirQ+ to quantify health burdens and drive policy. Through case studies from India, Singapore, the Philippines, South Africa, and Trinidad and Tobago, the document demonstrates the efficacy of solarising health centers, establishing inter-agency task forces, and using community-led litigation to enforce clean air standards.
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Document type: Report
Aire limpio, vidas saludables
The report "Aire limpio, vidas saludables" provides a policy roadmap for health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, to integrate air pollution responses. It emphasizes the role of health ministries in leading intersectoral collaboration, utilizing health impact assessments, and strengthening infrastructure to mitigate the severe health and economic burdens of air pollution.
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Document type: Report
STAATSKOERANT
This government notice and accompanying Terms of Reference establish the National Environmental Consultative and Advisory Forum to advise the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on applications for the suspension and postponement of compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) and the issuance of Provisional Atmospheric Emission Licences (PAEL).
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Document type: Report
OBJECTIONS TO ESKOM’S APPLICATIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE LIMITS TO THE MINIMUM EMISSION STANDARDS (MES) FOR THE MEDUPI AND MATIMBA POWER STATIONS
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.
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Document type: Statement
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.
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Document type: Statement
LIFE AFTER COAL CAMPAIGN COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT REGULATIONS AMENDING THE ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS ON NEW GENERATION CAPACITY, 2011
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted comments on the Draft Regulations Amending the Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity, 2011. The CER argues that the Draft Regulations are redundant and legally inconsistent because the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) does not require prior Ministerial approval for municipalities to establish their own electricity capacity. The submission emphasizes the urgent need for a transition to clean energy to mitigate severe health, environmental, and climate harms caused by South Africa's coal-dependent power sector.
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Document type: Statement
COMMENTS ON CONSULTATION PAPER 1: CONCURRENCE WITH THE MINISTERIAL DETERMINATION ON THE PROCUREMENT OF NEW GENERATION CAPACITY FROM A RANGE OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES 2020
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), writing on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted comments to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) regarding a draft ministerial determination to procure 2,000 MW of new generation capacity. The CER argues that this procurement must prioritize clean, affordable, and renewable energy sources over fossil fuels to align with constitutional obligations and public interest, while criticizing the lack of transparency regarding Request for Information (RFI) responses and the inadequacy of the public consultation process.
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Document type: Statement
Eskom Power Station Exceedances of Applicable Atmospheric Emission License (AEL) Limit Values for PM, SO2 & NOx During April 2016 to December 2017
This report, authored by Dr. Ranajit Sahu and published by the Centre for Environmental Rights, analyzes emissions monitoring data from Eskom power stations between April 2016 and December 2017. The study identifies thousands of exceedances of Atmospheric Emission License (AEL) limits for particulate matter (PM), sulfur oxides (SO2), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), attributing these failures in part to a lack of modern pollution control technologies and unreliable reporting practices.
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Document type: Report
MINISTER’S DECISION TO UPHOLD THE ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISATION FOR THE PROPOSED THABAMETSI COAL-FIRED POWER STATION
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has notified the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs of its intention to challenge the Minister of Environmental Affairs' January 30, 2018, decision to uphold the environmental authorisation for the proposed Thabametsi coal-fired power station. The CER argues the decision is unreasonable and unlawful, as it relies on an outdated energy policy to justify a project with very high greenhouse gas emissions and water scarcity risks, contradicting a previous High Court judgment regarding the necessity of independent climate impact assessments.
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Document type: Statement
ESKOM’S APPLICATIONS FOR POSTPONEMENT OF THE MINIMUM EMISSION STANDARDS IN TERMS OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: AIR QUALITY ACT, 2004: ESKOM HEALTH STUDIES
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a letter to the Department of Environmental Affairs on 24 June 2014, arguing that Eskom failed to conduct necessary health impact assessments for its applications to postpone Minimum Emission Standards (MES). The CER highlights expert estimates of significant premature deaths and economic costs resulting from Eskom's emissions and notes that Eskom previously withheld its own internal health risk reports from the public.
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Document type: Statement
REPLY TO ESKOM’S ISSUES AND RESPONSE REPORT APPENDIX F TO THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS REPORT DATED FEBRUARY 2014
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several community and environmental groups, submitted a formal reply on 24 March 2014 challenging Eskom's applications for postponement from the Minimum Emission Standards (MES). The CER disputes Eskom's claims that its power stations have a marginal impact on air quality and health, arguing that Eskom's Atmospheric Impact Reports (AIRs) are anecdotal, use insufficient modeling domains, and fail to quantify the health risks associated with secondary PM2.5 formation and mercury emissions.
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Document type: Statement
National Strategy for Water re-use
The National Strategy for Water re-use, published by GreenCape in June 2011, outlines a framework for implementing water re-use projects in South Africa to address the country's water-stressed status. It defines various types of re-use, analyzes drivers such as cost and public perception, and identifies sector-specific needs in agriculture, industry, mining, and power generation. The strategy proposes a policy environment focused on clear guidelines, updated water quality standards, and the leveraging of private sector capacity to ensure sustainable water resource management.
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Document type: Report
annexure-a-26333ba73b763b35.pdf
A formal request sent on 29 November 2016 by the Life After Coal Campaign and other environmental organisations to the South African Minister of Energy, seeking an extension for public comment on the Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update and demanding the release of critical supporting documents.
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Document type: Statement
cer-coct-amicus-intervention-aba19a49d5e48f53.pdf
This document is a legal application by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to be admitted as amicus curiae in a High Court case between the City of Cape Town, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA), and the Minister of Energy. The CER seeks to provide expert legal and technical submissions on the Constitutional obligations of the state and local government to protect the environment and promote a transition from coal-fired power to renewable energy. The application includes supporting affidavits and several annexed reports detailing the health, environmental, and economic impacts of coal-fired electricity generation in South Africa, as well as the feasibility of a low-carbon energy transition.
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Document type: Statement
first-resp-part-5-eb4a04733474d895.pdf
The document is an answering affidavit from the Minister of the National Department of Environmental Affairs regarding a legal application by the Centre for Environmental Rights. The Minister defends the government's air quality management in the Highveld Priority Area, arguing that the Highveld Plan is a 'living document' that has been approximately 80% implemented. The Minister disputes the necessity of creating specific regulations under section 20 of the Air Quality Act, citing resource constraints and the need to balance environmental rights with socio-economic growth and energy security.
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Document type: Report
THE MYTH OF “CLEAN COAL”
This fact sheet by the Centre for Environmental Rights argues that "clean coal" is an impossible concept. It details the devastating impacts of coal mining and combustion in South Africa—including high water consumption, toxic air pollution causing thousands of deaths, and land degradation—and dismisses HELE, CFB, and CCS technologies as insufficient or unviable solutions compared to renewable energy.
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Document type: Fact sheet