Greenpeace welcomes Wild Coast ruling as boost for South Africa's communities and renewable energy

Advocacy group Greenpeace International has welcomed South Africa’s Constitutional Court ruling against Shell’s (LSE/NYSE SHEL) Wild Coast exploration, saying it strengthens the rights of coastal and Indigenous communities and supports a shift towards renewable energy and green jobs.

In an article published on August 25, Greenpeace said the decision showed that economic interests and corporate investment cannot override constitutional rights where projects affect livelihoods, culture and the environment.

For coastal communities, the ruling is significant because it reinforces their right to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting their lives. Community representatives said development should be shaped by local people and their priorities, rather than determined primarily by companies or government institutions. Activists saw the judgement as a victory for Wild Coast community members and constitutional democracy.

According to Greenpeace, the judgment could provide a stronger legal safeguard for communities facing extractive projects elsewhere in South Africa and potentially across the region. The organisation argued that decisions over land, oceans and natural resources should respect constitutional and human rights and that promised investment or jobs should not automatically outweigh environmental, cultural and livelihood concerns.

Greener and cleaner technologies

Greenpeace also linked the ruling to a broader debate over how African countries can create jobs and expand energy access without relying heavily on fossil fuel extraction.

The organisation said governments should use the opportunity to diversify their energy systems and invest in renewable power, electricity grids, storage and locally owned projects. Solar and wind could support new domestic industries and create employment closer to communities, while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and exposure to price shocks. Batteries, smart grids and diversified renewable systems could improve reliability by allowing countries to combine local energy sources and store electricity when renewable output is high.

According to Greenpeace, South Africa’s abundant solar and wind resources, battery storage and stronger transmission networks could support a more diverse electricity system. The organisation said the country should focus on expanding these technologies rather than opening new areas to fossil fuel exploration.

Greenpeace also proposed changes to how the transition is financed, calling on governments to introduce stronger taxes on major polluters and wealthy individuals and to support new global tax rules under the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation, which is being negotiated. Greenpeace estimated that a proposed global tax of 20% on the profits of the largest oil and gas companies could raise more than $100bn a year in its first few years.

“These funds should not only be used to pay for the loss and damage caused by the extreme weather that these polluters drive, but also for climate adaptation and investment into cleaner newer energy technologies like renewables,” the organisation said.

According to Greenpeace, the Wild Coast ruling should be treated as an opportunity to redefine resource development. Future resource decisions should give communities a meaningful role, protect ecosystems and cultural rights, and prioritise investments that create long-term employment and energy security.

Way forward

For local communities, Greenpeace’s suggested way forward is greater participation in resource decisions, stronger legal protection for livelihoods and cultural rights, and development centred on renewable energy, local ownership and green jobs. The organisation said this approach could allow African countries to expand electricity access and economic opportunities while reducing dependence on fossil fuels and protecting communities from environmental risks associated with extraction for generations to come.

“It is time to end this cycle of suffering inflicted by the polluting extractives industry and to hold them to account by making them pay for a just transition that benefits all,” Greenpeace stated.