Sindh farmers sue German firms over 2022 flood damage

The farmers argue that emissions from RWE and Heidelberg Materials worsened the rain that wiped out their crops, and both firms deny wrongdoing.

39 farmers from Sindh, including Abdul Hafeez Khoso, are suing RWE and Heidelberg Materials over losses from the 2022 floods.

The case targets the firms' climate-warming emissions, not their operations in Pakistan. Both firms are headquartered in Germany.

The plaintiffs estimate the two firms contributed 0.68 per cent and 0.12 per cent of global industrial emissions; both deny wrongdoing.

The floods hit a third of Pakistan, killed 1,700 people and affected 30 million, according to research the lawsuit draws on.

A German case brought by a Peruvian farmer against RWE was rejected, but the courts left the door open to holding emitters liable.

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