Section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation; and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

About

The Environmental Defence Fund was established as an independent non-profit company to provide a separate funding vehicle for the work of the Centre for Environmental Rights, but also for environmental public interest litigation in general. The Fund shares the Centre’s mission of advancing environmental rights in South Africa.

While the Centre for Environmental Rights applies for project funding in its own name, donors have the option of making the donation into the Environmental Defence Fund.

In terms of its constitution, the Fund is obliged to use all donations first to fund the operations of the Centre for Environmental Rights. Should surplus funds be available, the Fund may also apply those funds to the work of other organisations with similar objectives to that of the CER. The Board anticipates that a growing proportion of funding in the Environmental Defence Fund will be allocated to the Centre for Environmental Rights as its capacity and impact grow.

In 2010, in partnership with a public benefit trust, the Fund issued its first call for applications for the funding of legal costs in environmental public interest litigation. In approved cases, attorneys’ and counsel’s fees are paid directly, and in successful cases, costs recovered are repaid to the Fund to replenish funds available for future cases.

For details on how to donate to the Fund, click here.

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