Three civil society organisations argues that the South Africa’s energy policy is incompatible with the national constitution. In fact, the building of new coal-fired power stations violates constitutional rights to life, dignity and equality of current and future generations and also the right to a healthy environment.
Another reason why the new coal-fired power stations should not be built is because the world has to remain within safe limits of global heating.
These three organisations are the youth-led African Climate Alliance, the Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action and Groundwork.
Mostly the fuel contributes to the global climate crisis and also causes serious local environmental problems such as air and water pollution.
The campaigners say the renewable energy is a feasible alternative and is cleaner and cheaper than new coal power. They also add that the problem is not being taken seriously enough.
South Africa has not clearly expressed the idea of remove the fossil fuel. Nevertheless was one of 197 countries to engage to phasing out coal at the Cop26 global climate summit in Glasgow last week.
Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, claims the climate crisis is “the most urgent issue of our time” and poses a particular threat to South Africa because of its water and food insecurity.
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