Pari Island Residents Sue Holcim
Swiss Court Agrees to Hear the Case; Plaintiffs Say "Very Happy"
Holcim Responds: "Not a Matter for the Courts... Reducing Carbon Emissions"
A lawsuit for damages filed by residents of an Indonesian island against Holcim, the world's largest cement company, is scheduled to be heard. According to Yonhap News on December 22 (local time), citing AFP, "The District Court of Zug, Switzerland, has decided to proceed with a damages lawsuit filed by four residents of Pari Island, Indonesia, who are demanding compensation from Holcim for damages caused by climate change."
The Pari Island in Indonesia is located in a low-lying area 1.5 meters above sea level and is experiencing repeated flooding due to sea level rise caused by increasing temperatures. Climate activists are protesting for climate justice on Pari Island. Friends of the Earth, an environmental organization.
The residents of Pari Island in Indonesia filed the lawsuit in January 2023 at the Zug court in Switzerland, where Holcim's headquarters is located. They argued that Holcim should bear partial responsibility for natural disasters caused by climate change because the company operated cement raw material quarrying and transportation facilities in Indonesia until 2019, emitting carbon, which is considered a major contributor to global warming. They also demanded that Holcim provide financial support for flood prevention measures and rapidly reduce its carbon dioxide emissions.
Pari Island in Indonesia is located in a low-lying area 1.5 meters above sea level and has been experiencing repeated flooding due to rising sea levels caused by increasing temperatures. This led to the so-called "climate lawsuit" against Holcim. The Swiss church charity organization HEKS, which supported the lawsuit, stated in a press release, "This is the first time a court in Switzerland has accepted a climate lawsuit against a large corporation." One of the plaintiffs said, "I am very happy about the court's decision to proceed with the case. This decision has given us the strength to continue our fight."
A lawsuit for damages filed by island residents of Indonesia against Holcim, the world's largest cement company, is scheduled to be heard. Reuters Yonhap News
On the other hand, Holcim stated that "the issue of who is allowed to emit how much carbon dioxide should be decided by the legislature, not a civil court," and announced its intention to appeal the court's decision. The company also said it is making every effort to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and has reduced its direct carbon dioxide emissions by more than 50% since 2015.
However, the court noted that even if the proceedings begin, the decision could be reversed if it is later determined that procedural requirements have not been met.
This lawsuit is seen as part of an international movement to hold major greenhouse gas-emitting companies accountable for the climate crisis. AFP pointed out, "While oil companies have been the main targets so far, climate activists hope this lawsuit will highlight the responsibility of the cement industry, which accounts for about 8% of annual carbon dioxide emissions."
Previously, it was reported that in October, residents of the Visayas region in the Philippines, who suffered major damage from the super typhoon Rai in 2021, filed a lawsuit for damages against the multinational oil company Shell, claiming that "the fossil fuel industry has exacerbated the climate disaster." They argued that "Shell's continued carbon emissions have destabilized the climate, resulting in intensified typhoons," and that "this disaster is not simply a natural phenomenon, but a consequence involving corporate responsibility."
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