Court rules government's coal plant plans violate constitutional right to health

John Maytham speaks with Cormac Cullinan, environmental attorney and the founder and managing director of the Wild Law Institute

Listen below.

The High Court has ruled that the government’s plan to procure 1,500 megawatts of new coal-fired power is unlawful.

The judge stated this plan violates the constitutional right to health.

Three environmental activist groups filed this case against the energy minister, regulator, and President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Cullinan says this was a significant judgement for future generations.

He adds that this judgment is likely to prove robust against any appeals.

“As the world uses up the carbon budget, it is clearer and clearer that we should not be burning any carbon when we have alternative.”

- Cormac Cullinan, environmental attorney 

“The wind is only blowing in one direction and that is against coal.”

- Cormac Cullinan, environmental attorney 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.