Main hearing on 3 September
On 3 September 2025, the moment will finally come: the first hearing of the climate lawsuit brought by Ibu Asmania, Arif Pujianto, Edi Mulyono and Pak Bobby, supported by HEKS, ECCHR and WALHI with a public campaign, against the Swiss cement company Holcim, will take place before the Cantonal Court of Zug.
The four Indonesian fishers are demanding climate justice because Holcim is partly responsible for climate change, which is having a particular impact on the plaintiffs. Their home, the island of Pari, is slowly being submerged. This is why they filed a civil lawsuit in Zug, where Holcim is headquartered, in early 2023. They are demanding that Holcim rapidly reduce its absolute and relative CO2 emissions, pay compensation for the climate damages that have already occurred, and contribute to necessary adaptation measures on their island.
In September, the court will first consider the question of whether those affected by climate damage have access to a Swiss court at all. And thus, access to justice. Ibu Asmania and Arif Pujianto will attend the hearings in the courtroom in Zug. This will be the first time that people from the Global South who are directly affected by climate change will stand before a Swiss court facing representatives of a global corporation that is partly responsible for their situation.
On Monday evening, 1 September 2025, the two plaintiffs will be speaking at the Volkshaus Zurich about the situation in Pari and their commitment to climate justice. Come and meet Ibu Asmania and Arif Pujianto in person. Register for the event now, as places are limited.