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7h ago

Swiss Court Holds Hearing on Indonesians’ Climate Suit Against Holcim

Judges examined whether Swiss civil courts can hear claims over global climate harms, with a ruling on admissibility expected in weeks.

Mehrere Personen halten ein buntes Plakat mit der Aufschrift "Don't let Pari Island sink" in Händen.
Protestierende halten ein Banner hoch, auf dem steht: „Wartet nicht, bis die Insel Pari versinkt.”
In Zug in der Schweiz tragen am Mittwoch vier Bewohnerinnen und Bewohner einer indonesischen Insel ihre Klimaklage gegen den Zementkonzern Holcim vor. Er gehört laut Forschern zu den hundert Unternehmen der Welt, die am meisten CO2 ausstoßen.

Overview

  • Four fishers from the low-lying Indonesian island of Pari allege Holcim’s emissions contribute to sea-level rise that is flooding their community.
  • The Canton Zug court convened a one-day session on Sept. 3 to assess jurisdiction and whether climate-affected outsiders may sue in Switzerland.
  • The plaintiffs seek roughly €3,850 each for lost income plus funding for protective infrastructure such as wave breakers, as well as deeper CO2 cuts by Holcim.
  • Holcim rejects civil liability in this forum, arguing emissions limits are for legislators to set and noting a reported reduction of direct CO2 emissions by more than 50% since 2015.
  • Holcim is listed by Carbon Majors among major historical emitters, and observers say this is the first climate case targeting a cement multinational and a Swiss company.