* [Campaign Update]: After three years of litigation, the landmark Cancel Coal case was heard in Pretoria High Court on 9 and 10 October.
The argument in court centred around the failure of the state respondents to ensure adequate consultation with youth, children and representatives of future generations. Due to the intensifying nature of the climate crisis, unchecked climate change will impact most heavily on children whose lives are still ahead of them. Additionally, it is children, (along with elderly people and those with respiratory health conditions) who are the most vulnerable to the toxic air pollution emitted by coal fired power plants.
Read more here: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-10-not-without-a-fight-young-activists-take-mantashe-nersa-to-high-court-over-new-coal-power-plans/
** [Campaign update]: On 4 December 2024, we received the news that we had won the court case! In a landmark ruling, the High Court of South Africa has overturned the government’s plans to add 1,500 MW of new coal-fired power to the national grid, saying they are “unlawful and invalid. Read more on the court case here: https://www.africanclimatealliance.org/blog/court-says-governments-plans-for-new-coal-fired-power-stations-are-unconstitutional
South Africa’s electricity minister has said that South Africa will not see any new coal power plants. But the government has not yet withdrawn a 2019 determination that aims to bring on 1500 MW of new coal – the equivalent of three to four large power plants.
Sign this petition to call on the government to close the door on new coal by withdrawing the 2019 determination. Instead, we need a focus on building a renewable energy economy that will mean reduced energy costs, healthier communities and electricity for those who need it and still don’t have it.