Switzerland: Court admits Holcim cement case brought by Indonesian islanders

A court has admitted a climate lawsuit against Swiss cement manufacturer Holcim brought by four inhabitants of the Indonesian island of Pulau Pari.

Ibu Asmania, Arif Pujianto, Pak Bobby and Edi Mulyono, with the support of NGO Swiss Church Aid (HEKS), are seeking damages and costs for protection measures such as planting mangroves and constructing breakwater barriers equivalent to Holcim's contribution to global industrial CO2 emissions. The island has been repeatedly flooded as warmer temperatures push up sea levels.

The Cantonal Court of Zug held its first hearing on the claim in September. Holcim argued this was an issue for the legislature not the judiciary, that if it was forced to change its practices other companies would simply fill in the gap, and that its emissions were just a small drop in the ocean. The court rejected all these arguments.

Holcim says it will appeal.