The conciliation hearing in October 2022 concluded without results. Now... [f]or the first time, a Swiss company must answer for its role in contributing to climate change in court. The world market leader in the cement branch is doing too little to reduce its emissions so that global warming does not exceed 1.5 degrees – and its actions come too late. This is substantiated in a new analysis on Holcim’s climate strategy...

Last year in July... four residents of Pari filed an application for conciliation in Zug, Switzerland, the location of Holcim’s headquarters. But, during the conciliation proceedings, Holcim made no indication that it was willing to address their concerns. Therefore, on 30 January 2023, the four complainants filed a complaint against the corporation on behalf of the entire island at the Cantonal Court of Zug...“Our existence is under threat,” says Asmania [one of the four complainants]. “We want those responsible to now finally take action”...

The complainants are demanding proportional compensation for climate damages they have suffered and for Holcim to contribute financially to flood-protection measures. In addition, they are demanding that Holcim reduce its CO2 emissions by 43% by 2030 and by 69% by 2040, compared to the company’s 2019 emissions. This would be in alignment with the target established in the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. Swiss Church Aid (HEKS), the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Friends of the Earth Indonesia (WAHLI) are supporting the complaint by the four Indonesians with the campaign Call for Climate Justice...

The four Indonesian complainants are suing for infringement on personality rights (ZGB 28) resulting from past, ongoing and future excessive CO2 emissions on the part of Holcim, which have led and will lead to damages (OR 41) on the island. Additionally, a study by the Global Climate Forum (in German only) now proves that the damages on Pari island are caused by global warming...

According to one study, between 1950 and 2021, the Swiss corporation released more than 7 million tons of CO2. That amounts to 0.42% of all global industrial CO2 emissions since the year 1750...

The complaint against Holcim is part of a worldwide movement, yet it is only the second climate litigation case brought forward by affected people from the Global South. Furthermore, it is not only calling for Holcim to assume historical responsibly but, also, future responsibility with the demand for the company to rapidly reduce its emissions. For the complainants, this point is central: they are not filing their complaint only to receive compensation for the personal damages they have suffered. With it, they also seek to contribute to preserving the livelihoods of millions of people, primarily in the Global South, that are existentially threatened by climate change.