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100 signatures reached
To: Minister of Electricity and Energy, the Minister of Mineral Resources and the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Tell The Government to End New Coal and Invest in Renewable Energy
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We call on the Minister of Electricity and Energy, the Minister of Mineral Resources and the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to:
1. Uphold the High Court's December 2024 ruling by confirming that the government will not appeal the judgment that declared new coal allocations in the IRP2019 unlawful and invalid.
2. Embed meaningful children and youth participation in all climate and energy planning processes, including in the upcoming Integrated Energy Plan, ensuring young people have structural seats at the table and not just consultation after decisions are made.
3. Prioritise procurement of renewable energy, storage, and grid infrastructure over new fossil fuel projects, with clear timelines and transparent reporting on progress toward a 1.5°C-aligned energy pathway.
4. Publish a public roadmap showing how South Africa will meet its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets without new coal, including how health, environmental, and children's rights impacts are assessed in all energy decisions.
Why is this important?
In December 2024, the High Court delivered a landmark victory for young people and climate justice in South Africa. The court ruled that the government's plan to add 1,500 MW of new coal-fired power was unlawful because it failed to properly consider children's rights, health impacts, and the availability of cleaner, cheaper alternatives. This wasn't just a legal win, it was a recognition that our futures cannot be sacrificed for short-term political or economic interests. Yet, the appeal process remains pending, and the threat of new coal still looms.
Coal kills. It pollutes the air we breathe, contaminates our water, and fuels the climate crisis that brings droughts, floods, and food insecurity. Children, elderly people, and those with existing health conditions bear the heaviest burden. In Mpumalanga, where most of South Africa's coal plants are located, communities live with the daily reality of respiratory illness, contaminated soil, and economic dependence on an industry in decline. At the same time, renewable energy is now the cheapest source of new electricity in South Africa. Wind and solar projects can be built faster, create more jobs per rand invested, and don't poison our communities. Every new coal plant locks in emissions for decades, making our climate targets harder and more expensive to reach and stealing opportunities from young people who deserve a livable future.
This is about more than energy. It's about justice. The #CancelCoal case affirmed that government decisions must centre the rights of young people and future generations. But rights on paper mean nothing without action. We need decision-makers who will listen to the communities most affected by coal, who will invest in retraining workers and building new economic opportunities in a just transition, and who will ensure that the benefits of renewable energy flow to local communities and not just to distant shareholders. Young people, women, and grassroots organisations have been leading the charge for climate action. Now we need our leaders to match that courage with concrete commitments.
If you've ever struggled to study during load shedding, worried about a family member's asthma, or dreamed of a job that doesn't harm your health, this petition is for you. By adding your name, you're telling our Ministers: We see the alternative. We demand a future powered by clean, affordable, reliable renewable energy. We demand a just transition that leaves no one behind. Together, we can turn the promise of the #CancelCoal victory into real change. Sign now, share widely, and let's build the energy future we deserve.