Our next guest has partnered with the Justice Climate Coalition to challenge the government to transform its harmful energy and mining sector to ensure a more socially, economically and ecologically just future for the next generation. It has outlined its concerns in an open letter to the Parliamentary Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, the Minister of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy – Hon. Gwede Mantashe and the Presidency. The campaign, #UprootTheDMRE, would like the government to cease granting mineral exploration and mining rights in protected areas. This action would cause great social and biophysical damage. It does not align with South Africa’s commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030

Guest: Patrick Dowling - Chair of The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) Environmental Governance Committee