Smoke rises from the Duvha coal-based power station owned by state power utility Eskom, in Mpumalanga province. Photo:Reuters

Evidence against the polluting South African government to be handed in by United Nations rights expert

By Patryk Krych | The World Daily | JUNE 15th 2020

A human rights expert from the United Nations is on the verge of handing in evidence against the South African government in a lawsuit against them, aiming to conclusively prove that they’re guilty of neglect towards the long term effects of air pollution resultant of the coal-burning industry, according to court papers.

South Africa currently stands as one of the world’s largest contributors to carbon emissions, and therefore the perpetuation of the climate crisis. With many of other world countries now beginning to gradually move away from the production of electricity based on the burning of fossil fuels and moving more towards renewable energy, there’s been a considerable increase in pressure for South Africa to follow in these footsteps.

Well over half of the carbon and associated greenhouse gas emissions that come from South Africa are emitted from coal powered electricity plants. The trouble is that these emissions aren’t only a source of threat towards the global warming crisis, but are also now recognised as a sever cause of air pollution in the region, therefore an major health risk to the regional inhabitants.

In a series of satellite images, it’s been shown the that region of Mpumalanga -the region where 12 of South Africa’s 15 largest coal plants are operating- is the region where some of the highest amounts and most deadly nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide gasses are produced and emitted in the entire world.

If David Boyd, the UN special rapporteur on the environment and human rights, is allowed by the High Courts to hand in his evidence later this month, it could greatly help the case and force the government to seek to curb their emissions.

“There is no doubt that air pollution is the deadliest environmental problem in the world today, causing millions of deaths annually,” said Boyd, in his affidavit, Reuters reported. “States have clear obligations under international human rights law to protect the enjoyment of human rights from environmental harm.”

The industrialised region in South Africa is already suspected of causing major threat, from a dangerous risk of cancer in local residents, to asthma. Recently, the environmental ministry had acknowledged a request for comment, although it didn’t give any immediate response, choosing to withhold.

The lawsuit was filed last year by environmental activists in hopes of improving the regional air quality for the locals. The majority of the power plants are run by Eskom, who had declined to comment, and is known to be roughly 450 billion rand ($26 billion) in debt.

Boyd had gone on to ask the court to accept submissions on South Africa’s international responsibilities to promote a much healthier environment, and also on the detrimental impact that air pollution would have on the region’s basic human rights. He furthermore cites evidence that reveals the air pollution is disproportionately causing more harm to poorer communities.

By Patryk Krych | © The World Daily 2020