Eskom’s plan to temporarily bypass sulphur dioxide controls at Kusile coal power plant poses a deadly health risk to local communities.

The Pretoria High Court has granted leave to appeal the Deadly Air judgement regarding toxic air pollution in the Highveld Priority Area.

The main difference between EVs and hybrid cars is how they are powered. An EV gets its power exclusively from electricity, while hybrid cars – as the name suggests – run on a mix.

The place of natural gas in a clean energy future is hotly debated. But, there is a simple answer to whether natural gas is renewable.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) is promoted as a cleaner fuel alternative, but also comes with risks to the climate and health.

While fossil fuel prices soar, solar is the solution to affordable energy security, job creation and sustainable economic growth.

Lower running and maintenance costs mean EV ownership can prove an excellent investment, particularly as more affordable models become available.

Analysts agree that natural gas is too risky for South Africa, and it is not needed for the energy transition from coal to clean.

The link between coal, gas and water pollution is clear, but the extraction and use of fossil fuels affect ecosystems in many less obvious ways as well.

South Africa is experiencing a number of environmental issues, including global warming, pollution and species loss.

Air pollution is the world’s most critical environmental health risk. South Africa’s use of fossil fuels produces hundreds of millions of tonnes of emissions annually.

“There are no jobs on a dead planet!” goes the old slogan. Environmental degradation is a serious risk to economic growth.

Coal’s dominance in South Africa’s electricity mix – totalling 90 per cent of electricity generation – means the rising price of coal is making bills more expensive.

Hydrogen is a fuel source that is a possible alternative to fossil fuels. It can be used in fuel cells and to create heat, and its only by-product is water, meaning it does not release any greenhouse gases when burned.

A wind turbine works by harnessing the power of the wind to create wind energy. The wind turns large blades around a rotor. This, in turn, powers a generator, which creates electricity.

South Africa is a coal-dependent country. Coal makes up 74 per cent of the country’s total electricity supply. In the first quarter of 2021, 81.8 per cent of South Africa’s electricity came from coal.

Since 2006, the amount of gas in the atmosphere has increased, according to NASA. The oil and gas industry has caused the majority of methane gas emissions since 2006, NASA says.

Currently, South Africa is neither a large exporter nor importer of LNG. However, there are now plans in the country to develop this fossil fuel industry.