Delayed coal phase-out could cause 32,000 deaths in South Africa — Report

A stark warning has emerged from climate rights groups, indicating that South Africa's continued reliance on coal could lead to a devastating public health crisis, with up to 32,000 preventable deaths between 2026 and 2050 if the phase-out of coal plants is delayed. The report by Greenpeace, the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, and GroundWork underscores the dire consequences of the government's updated decommissioning dates, which allow some plants to operate until 2050.

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Pollution does not stay where it is made, it travels.

This issue is particularly contentious in South Africa, where coal is not only the backbone of the economy, employing over 90,000 people, but also the source of 80% of the nation's electricity. While the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) deal aimed to facilitate a shift away from coal, recent developments, including the US withdrawing a multi-million dollar deal, signal significant challenges. The report directly challenges the government's economic justifications for these delays, arguing that the true cost is being hidden in healthcare expenses and premature deaths.

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Coal’s true cost is being hidden in hospitals and in early graves.

The health impacts are projected to be severe, especially in the Gauteng province, which is expected to bear the brunt of the pollution. The report forecasts 15,000 deaths in this region alone, alongside thousands of pre-term births and new cases of childhood asthma. Residents in Mpumalanga, South Africa's most polluted industrial zone, shared harrowing accounts of respiratory illnesses and skin diseases, describing the situation as "a pandemic." This environmental and health crisis demands urgent attention and a reevaluation of South Africa's energy policy.

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It is a pandemic for us.