Green promises: the two faces of the Swiss cement giant Holcim 

On the very day Holcim is fighting against a climate lawsuit in a court in Zug, the Swiss cement company is promoting its Net Zero plans at a congress just a few kilometres down the road. But how solid is this green promise? Water will swallow their homes. Rising sea levels, a consequence of climate change, have hit the Indonesian island of Palau Pari hard. Four residents have therefore taken Holcim to court in Switzerland. They argue that cement production accounts for about 8% of global CO2 emissions, and Holcim is one of the world’s largest producers. Backed by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the lawsuit targets one key contributor. This may seem arbitrary, but the lawsuit argues that even in complex systems someone must be held responsible. If the courts rule that Holcim is partly liable for some of the climate-related damage on Pari, it would set a precedent. That is why this case has attracted so much attention. Holcim holds the first line of defence for all ...