An assessment of how environmental impact assessments of new coal mines in South Africa consider climate change

Abstract

Climate change is a serious global risk that adversely affects the environment and societies across the world. Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels are the major cause of climate change. Climate change is closely associated with global air temperature increases, changes in the precipitation patterns and frequencies, changes in wind speeds and directions, melting of glaciers, snow and ice, and rising of sea levels. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important tool used in the management of environmental issues. The incorporation of climate change factors into the EIA process has gained global momentum. Many organisations and governments have developed different principles and guidelines that can be used when considering climate change in the EIA process. This research assessed how climate change is considered in the EIA process for new coal mines in South Africa, and how this compares with global best practice. South African legislative documents and guidelines were reviewed to establish the legal requirements for considering climate change in the application of mining permits and mining rights for new coal mines. A thorough review of Environmental Impact Assessment reports and Environmental Management Programme reports for five new coal mines from the Mpumalanga Province (South Africa) was done to find out how the EIAs for new mines consider climate change. Interviews with an official from the Department of Mineral Resources, a climate change expert, one sustainability officer and 4 mine environmental officers were done. The investigation established that the consideration of climate change in the South African EIA process for new coal mines is in its early stages. Greenhouse gas emissions which are the main contributors to climate change are comprehensively dealt with in the EIA process. Legislation and clear guidelines for incorporating climate change factors into the country’s EIA process, especially around developments that contribute to climate change, are needed in order to manage and mitigate the impacts of coal extraction on the climate, as well as developing adaptation strategies for coal mines.