Indonesian fishermen’s climate lawsuit in Switzerland against cement giant to proceed
The lawsuit states that Holcim has ‘significantly contributed to climate change with its massive CO2 emissions’
On Monday, the Cantonal Court of Zug ruled that it would admit the lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed to a full assessment on its merits.
Swiss Church Aid HEKS/EPER is a Swiss development and humanitarian organisation founded by Protestant churches that works on social justice, human rights and climate issues. It is backing the plaintiffs in partnership with the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights and the Indonesian environmental group Walhi.
The ruling marked the first time a Swiss court had agreed to hear a climate lawsuit against a corporation, Swiss Church Aid said.
“The legal relevance of climate change is now recognised by the world’s highest courts as well as courts in numerous other countries. The development is clear: major greenhouse gas emitters are increasingly being held accountable,” the organisation wrote, adding that it was an “important step” towards climate justice.