Court Bars South Africa From Building New Coal Plants

Plans to increase electricity production from coal, the dirtiest fossil fuel, in South Africa - home to the most carbon-intensive economy among G20 nations - violate the constitutional right to health, Judge CJ van der Westhuizen stated in a ruling released on Wednesday.

The case was brought by three environmental activist groups against the energy minister, energy regulator, and President Cyril Ramaphosa after the government revealed its intentions in a 2019 energy plan, which was approved in 2020.

The judge ruled that these decisions were "unlawful and invalid," ordering the minister and regulator to cover the complainants' legal costs.

This ruling marks another victory for activists, who have already secured judgments requiring the government to enforce laws limiting pollution from coal burning and blocking certain offshore oil exploration.

Despite these legal victories, South Africa continues to rely on coal for around 80 of its electricity, contributing to some of the world's worst air quality. Pollution from coal is linked to health issues ranging from respiratory illnesses to strokes and heart attacks, with Eskom admitting that its emissions cause hundreds of deaths each year.