‘SA's 'major polluters' told to release crucial greenhouse gas emissions data’ 9 April 2020

Environment, forestry and fisheries minister Barbara Creecy has ordered several companies considered as “major polluters” to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data and reduction plans amid the devastating impact of Covid-19. The instruction comes after a court battle lodged by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against Creecy's department in 2019. The centre had requested access to information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000.

…Creecy upheld the appeal, saying DEFF’s reasons for refusing to provide the information were inadequate — lacking in substance and detail. She has since ordered the DEFF to make the redacted GHG emission values available to the CER within seven days of the end of the Covid-19 lockdown. She found that “the overall purpose of the administration of justice requires the disclosure of the anticipated projected emissions and the data relating to anticipated and actual emission reductions”.

…“The climate crisis adversely impacts all people, particularly vulnerable communities, young people and those with existing compromised health conditions. The public needs to know how companies plan to reduce their GHG emissions, in order to hold them accountable when they fail to do so,” said Nicole Loser, attorney at the CER.   Creecy said full access to the information would foster and contribute towards transparency and accountability which is owed to the public regarding  matters of the environment.   Some of the companies which had been ordered to make available the information are Eskom, Sasol, ArcelorMittal, PPC, Exxaro, South32, Glencore, Seriti, SAPPI and Anglo American.