Indonesia: a tiny island files climate lawsuit against cement firm
Recent protests in Indonesia over economic hardship have coincided with a landmark climate lawsuit filed by four residents of Pulau Pari, a tiny island only three metres above sea level which has already lost 11% of its land. Backed by international organisations, the plaintiffs are suing Swiss cement giant Holcim in a Swiss court, demanding proportional compensation, urgent emission cuts of 43% by 2030, and support for climate adaptation. Pulau Pari’s homes, fishing livelihoods, and freshwater supplies are being threatened by rising seas and saltwater intrusion, with projections suggesting the island could largely disappear by 2050. The case is historic: it seeks to hold a major corporation legally accountable in its own country for climate damages, echoing the International Court of Justice’s call for ‘full reparation’ for climate victims. It highlights the severe inequity facing low-emission coastal communities like Bangladesh. What lies ahead is a whole new discussion, but this case has surely created a path where victims are not defenceless and corporate giants are not untouchable.
Taiwan / China: super typhoon causes widespread devastation
On 24 September Typhoon Ragasa, the strongest tropical cyclone globally this year, slammed into Yangjiang, southern China, after killing 17 people in Taiwan and battering Hong Kong with destructive winds and torrential rain. The storm, which reached Category 5 strength with winds over 260 kph before weakening, inundated Hong Kong’s coastal areas, submerging roads and buildings. China’s authorities ordered the evacuation of over two million residents across Guangdong province, and dispatched tens of thousands of tents, folding beds, lighting equipment and other rescue supplies. While Hong Kong kept its stock market open as a sign of infrastructure resilience, authorities warned of continued flooding risks. Experts link Ragasa’s ferocity to climate change and predict stronger typhoons ahead, highlighting the need for urgent climate action and preparedness across vulnerable coastal regions as global temperatures and sea levels rise.
Nepal: the challenges facing new PM
New prime minister Sushila Karki, a former chief justice known for her uncompromising stance against corruption, faces an immense challenge just weeks after taking office. Chosen after huge protests which toppled her predecessor KP Sharma Oli, she has six months to deliver elections and satisfy demands from Nepal’s energised Gen Z movement. Protesters are urging her to arrest senior leaders accused of graft, purge politically connected bureaucrats, and investigate the 74 protest-related deaths. Their support remains conditional, with leaders such as Sudan Gurung warning they will oust her if progress stalls. Karki has pledged an anti-corruption committee and a panel to examine the violence. Yet entrenched party power - especially Oli’s influence as head of the Communist Party - poses obstacles. With youth unemployment above 20% and decades of political instability, Nepal stands at a pivotal moment reminiscent of the 2008 Maoist uprising. Karki must balance swift action and careful diplomacy to prevent renewed turmoil, while proving that democratic reform is possible.
Kenya: turning a deadly weed into an eco-friendly innovation
Innovator Joseph Nguthiru has turned a personal challenge into an award-winning environmental enterprise. In 2021, he and classmates were stranded for hours on Lake Naivasha when water hyacinth, a weed that disrupts fishing, navigation, and irrigation worldwide, blocked their boat. That incident inspired their engineering project to convert the invasive plant into biodegradable products. Nguthiru envisioned ‘one problem solving another’, so launched HyaPak Ecotech Ltd to create eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics, including packaging bags and seedling wrappers. HyaPak has already removed over 700 kilograms of hyacinth and partnered with Kenya’s government in a programme to plant 15 billion trees over ten years. Nguthiru has also invented a solar dryer, reviving Kenya’s pyrethrum farming, and leads Adopt a River, which has cleared more than three tons of river waste while educating communities on climate action. He believes lasting change requires grassroots involvement, proving innovation and community engagement can drive sustainable solutions.
