'NEW REPORT CALLS FOR END TO EXPORT CREDITS TO COAL'

For the report Up in Smoke: Human rights and environmental impacts of export credits to coal. The case of South Africa, Swedwatch visited South Africa’s Mpumalanga province, home to some of the world’s most polluting coal-fired powerplants. Human rights and environmental defenders, community members and health experts all expressed grave concerns regarding the industry’s effects on health, water and livelihoods. Impacts included respiratory disease, food security issues and decreased access to clean water. It was also evident that women and girls were disproportionately affected by a range of impacts while also at risk of sexual exploitation.

In 2015, France’s ECA completely halted credits to the coal industry. Since then, positive steps have also been taken by Sweden and Germany to reduce their support related to the coal sector; in 2019, the Swedish ECA declared it will stop all export credits to exploration, extraction and transportation of coal by the end of 2020. Germany continues to allow export support to coal mining and coal-related infrastructure.