Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 5 December 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# The Gauteng High Court has ruled against government’s plan to procure one-thousand-500 megawatts of coal-fired power, deeming it unconstitutional due to health risks. The decision was challenged by environmental groups, and the court found the 2019 plan unlawful, citing coal’s severe impact on public health. Judge Cornelius van der Westhuizen emphasised its violation of the constitutional right to health. Activists say despite this victory, South Africa still relies heavily on coal, while advancing renewable energy.

# The US has argued that it is not financially liable for past greenhouse gas emissions and that current human rights laws do not provide for a right to a healthy environment. US representative, Margaret Taylor, made an oral statement at the International Court of Justice. At the request of the United Nations’ General Assembly, the ICJ will determine the existing financial liability of countries for their contribution to climate change. Talyor says the US recognises the climate crisis as one of the gravest challenges humanity has ever faced.

# And finally: A US study has revealed that exposure to common air pollutants, such as organic carbon and particulate matter, increases infertility risks. The research, conducted on one-thousand-400 individuals undergoing in-vitro fertilisation, highlights the impact of pollution on both men and women. It found that pollutants, particularly from vehicles and wildfire smoke, negatively affect fertilisation rates. The study urges the importance of reducing exposure, especially during critical stages of conception, and using air filtration systems for protection.

Stay tuned for more news………….