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The South African Supreme Court of Appeal recently dismissed the government\u2019s appeal against a ruling that struck down plans for 1,500 megawatts of new coal-fired power.<\/p>\n
The so-called #CancelCoal case was brought by a coalition of environmental NGOs that argued the new planned coal capacity violates children\u2019s constitutional rights to a healthy environment. Already, air pollution from coal-fired power plants kills more than 2,200 South Africans each year and \u201ccauses thousands of cases of bronchitis and asthma,\u201d according to a statement<\/a> from the Centre for Environmental Rights.<\/p>\n The Minister of Electricity and Energy argued that additional coal capacity is necessary for energy security. A previous High Court judgment ruled against the plan \u201con the basis that it violates the right to an environment not harmful to health and well-being,\u201d per the statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe High Court further found that government\u2019s arguments about grid stability offered by coal, was not sufficient justification for the violation of constitutional rights,\u201d said Michelle Sithole in an email to Mongabay. Sithole is senior associate in the pollution and climate change program at the Centre for Environmental Rights, the group that represented the plaintiffs in the court case.<\/p>\n The Minister appealed the High Court decision. The recent Court of Appeal\u2019s decision dismissed the Minister\u2019s appeal, meaning the previous High Court decision stands.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile this does not mean a definitive end to the development of new coal-fired power as part of the energy security policy, it does mean that government has a higher onus\/standard to justify choosing coal for electricity,\u201d Sithole said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur and our clients\u2019 position has been that there are cheaper, cleaner and more sustainable sources of energy. Energy security should not come at the expense of people\u2019s lives, health and well-being. We would like government\u2019s electricity plans to reflect that,\u201d Sithole said. She noted that the Minister of Electricity and Energy can appeal the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling to the South African Constitutional Court if he so chooses.<\/p>\n Banner image:<\/em><\/strong> South African coal-fired power plant. Image courtesy of JMK via <\/em>Wikimedia<\/em><\/a> Commons<\/em> (<\/em>CC BY-SA 4.0<\/em><\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n
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