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Ministry of Environment and Forestry v. PT Bumi Mekar Hijau

Filing Date: 2015
Reporter Info: Decision Number 24/Pdt.G/2015/PN.Plg
Status: Decided
Case Categories:
  • Suits against corporations, individuals
    • Corporations
      • Climate damage
Jurisdictions:
  • Indonesia
    • Palembang Court of Appeal
Principal Laws:
  • Indonesia
    • Environmental Law No.32 of 2009
Summary:

On February 3, 2015, the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (the MoEF) filed a tort-based lawsuit against PT Bumi Mekar Hijau for intentionally causing fires to the peatlands. The MoEF argued that the defendant had intentionally burn the peatlands area to clear the land for timber planting purposes. Thus, the MoEF requested the court to declare that defendant liable for damages amounting to IDR 5.299 trillion and restoration costs for IDR 2.687 trillion. With damages and restoration cost amounting almost to IDR 8 trillion, this lawsuit is ranked among the highest damages in Indonesian forest fires litigation. In relation to climate damages, the MoEF argued that fires on the peatlands had caused in the release of 135,000 tC and 5,670 tCO2. The MoEF set the price for reduction and restoration of carbon on IDR 90,000. Hence, the total of restoration costs for the release of Carbon and Carbon Dioxide, respectively, were IDR 12.2 billion and IDR 4.3 billion.

On December 30, 2015, District Court of Palembang ruled in favor of the defendant and rejected all the plaintiff’s claim. Despite accepting the fact that the fires had occurred, the judges did not consider it as damages and believed the land were still able to be planted. On May 3, 2016, the Court of Appeal overruled the district court decision on the grounds that the damages had occurred in the form of air pollution and damages on the peatlands. The court of appeal also awarded the plaintiff the restoration costs for climate damages in the full amount as requested.

At Issue: Restoration for climate damage caused by palm plantation land clearing.
Case Documents:
Filing Date Type File Summary
02/03/2015 Decision Download The district court ruled in favor of the defendant and rejected all the plaintiff’s claim.
02/12/2016 Decision Download The Palembang court of appeal overruled the district court decision and held the defendant liable.

© 2023 · Sabin Center for Climate Change Law · U.S. Litigation Chart made in collaboration with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

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