South Durban Community Environmental Alliance v. Minister of Environment and Others

Summary:

In June 2021, an environmental justice organization filed suit challenging the South African government's approval of offshore oil and gas exploration by Eni South Africa and Sasol. The suit challenges the authorization on several grounds, including the government's failure to consider the climate impacts resulting from the exploration in its Environmental Impact Assessment. Plaintiffs allege that this is in violation of the country's climate change commitments, including those under the Paris Agreement, and its environmental assessment laws.

At Issue: Whether South Africa's authorization of oil exploration violates climate commitments