Lessons for Global South as a sinking Indonesian island sues climate polluters

Excerpt from asianews.network

DHAKA – Since late August, Indonesia has been gripped by demonstrations rooted in long-standing structural pressures faced by its people. The outrage is fuelled by economic hardship, a faltering economy, and a government largely turning a blind eye to people’s struggles. Amid this unrest, at the beginning of this month, another confrontation emerged, far from the political spotlight.

A crucial preliminary court hearing took place in a lawsuit filed by four Pulau Pari residents against Holcim, the Swiss cement giant, according to The Guardian. The residents of this four-kilometre-long island, which is just about three metres above sea level and has already lost 11 percent of its land underwater, filed the civil lawsuit at a Swiss court in July 2022, demanding climate justice for the company’s role in the climate crisis. This is backed by Indonesian and international organisations, including Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), and saw its main hearing on September 3 at the Cantonal Court of Zug.

The massive impact of carbon emissions on rising sea levels has placed Pulau Pari at risk of being wiped off the map. The plaintiffs feel it is unfair to suffer the consequences of global warming without contributing to pollution. Thus, they demand proportional compensation—urgent emission cuts of at least 43 percent by 2030 and contributions to climate adaptation measures.