South African Court Rules Plans for New Coal Capacity Are Unlawful

The High Court of South Africa has ruled that government plans for new coal-fired power capacity are unlawful as they violate the constitutional right to health. South Africa’s government has planned to seek 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired electricity capacity. But the plans have been challenged in court by activists who argued that new coal plants could lead to damages to public health. Upholding the challenge brought up by three environmental groups, the High Court says that the government plans and decisions to seek the procurement…