Indonesians are suing Holcim over climate

“Our existence is threatened”

Indonesian islanders are suing Holcim for climate damage

Four residents of the Indonesian island of Pari, threatened by climate change, have filed a civil lawsuit against the Swiss cement company Holcim with the Zug cantonal court. They blame the company for climate damage.

“Our existence is threatened,” said a statement from the plaintiffs on Wednesday. The islanders are demanding compensation and money for flood protection measures. Holcim is also to reduce CO2 emissions by 43 percent by 2030 and by 69 percent by 2040 compared to 2019.

The lawsuit filed on Monday is the first ordinary civil case in Switzerland against a corporation for allegedly contributing to climate change. The plaintiffs allege a violation of privacy due to Holcim’s “excessive CO2 emissions”.