A group of Sindh farmers has taken legal action against two major German corporations, seeking €1 million in damages for climate-related losses. The farmers claim that the companies’ industrial activities have contributed to global warming, which intensified the 2022 floods that devastated Pakistan’s farmlands.
According to Geo News, citing a report by The Guardian, lawyers representing 43 Sindh farmers have sent legal notices to energy producer RWE and cement manufacturer Heidelberg. The farmers argue that their fields stayed submerged for more than a year after record-breaking monsoon rains flooded nearly one-third of Pakistan, displacing millions and destroying multiple crop cycles in southern Sindh.
They stress that Pakistan contributes very little to global emissions, yet its rural communities face severe climate impacts. The floods wiped out entire livelihoods, leaving many families in debt and without stable income.
New research cited in The Guardian connects RWE to 0.68% of global industrial emissions since 1965 and Heidelberg to 0.12%. The Sindh farmers believe these corporations should share financial responsibility for the destruction caused by climate change. Lead claimant Abdul Hafeez Khoso said that local communities are losing homes and farmlands while wealthy corporations continue to profit from polluting industries.
In response, Heidelberg confirmed that it has received the legal notice and is reviewing the claims. RWE said it needs more information before issuing a detailed response.
The lawsuit is part of a growing movement of cross-border climate cases in Europe and the UK. Lawyers representing the Sindh farmers said that if no settlement is reached, they plan to file a formal case by the end of the year.
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This action reflects a rising demand for accountability from major emitters, as developing nations continue to face the harsh realities of climate change.
