DHAKA – Indonesia’s been seeing protests since late August. People are angry about long-term problems, a weak economy, and a goverment that doesn’t seem to care. But this month, another fight started, one that’s flown under the radar.

Four residents of Pulau Pari are suing Holcim, the Swiss cement giant.It’s a crucial case. The Guardian reports the residents filed the lawsuit in a swiss court in July 2022. They’re demanding climate justice, saying holcim played a role in the climate crisis. Organizations like Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) and the european Center for Constitutional and Human rights (ECCHR) are backing them. The main hearing was on September 3rd at the Cantonal court of Zug.

Pulau Pari is a small island, only four kilometers long and barely three meters above sea level. It’s already lost 11% of its land to the rising sea. Carbon emissions are to blame. The residents feel it’s unfair to suffer from global warming when they haven’t contributed to the pollution. They want Holcim to make things right.They’re asking for emission cuts of at least 43% by 2030 and help with adapting to the changing climate.

This lawsuit is a big deal. It’s the first time a company this large is being held accountable in its own country for climate-related damage. The International Court of Justice recently ruled that people harmed by climate change might be entitled to compensation. This ruling came on July 23rd. But the Pulau Pari residents filed their case before the ICJ ruling, showing that people are increasingly recognizing climate justice as a valid claim.

According to the Climate Accou