--- title: Climate lawsuit challenges Bali’s ‘green’ image, calls for fossil fuel freeze date: 2026-07-08T10:42:15Z modified: 2026-07-08T10:42:15Z permalink: "https://350.org/press-release/climate-lawsuit-challenges-balis-green-image-calls-for-fossil-fuel-freeze/" type: press-release status: publish excerpt: "" wpid: 175531371 categories: - Asia - Featured - Press Release author: ilang-ilangquijano --- ![](https://350.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Media-Conference-Photo6-700x323.jpeg) _Press conference by PULIHKAN Bali Coalition on July 7, announcing the filing of Bali’s first climate lawsuit (Photo: 350.org Indonesia)_ Bali, Indonesia – Flood survivors sued the Indonesian government for climate damages and sought a moratorium on new fossil fuel projects in the first climate lawsuit originating from one of the world’s most popular tropical island destinations. The citizen lawsuit filed with the Denpasar District Court by 10 Balinese residents, announced in a press conference this week, claims that the September 2025 floods – which claimed 18 lives, affected more than 6,000 households, and brought economic losses worth US$1.6 million (Rp 28.9 billion) – were due to decades of climate inaction and environmental mismanagement. [350.org](http://350.org/) Indonesia says that the lawsuit exposes the hypocrisy of Bali’s ‘Net Zero’ commitments, championed by Bali Governor Wayan Koster who attended last month’s high-profile London Climate Action Week. **Suriadi Darmoko,** [**350.org**](http://350.org/) **Indonesia organizer and one of the plaintiffs, said:** _“It is deeply ironic that our leaders fly to London to deliver speeches on global climate leadership and are praised as Asian pioneers, while in the very same part of the world within their responsibility, lives were lost due to floods caused by climate neglect and failed land-use planning. We are filing this lawsuit because we are tired of seeing the real crisis in our region reduced to mere fodder for speeches abroad, without any concrete, legally binding action at home._ _Bali’s commitment to a clean energy transition is being put to the test. It claims to be moving towards green energy, yet is building out plans for fossil gas infrastructure development. A moratorium on new fossil fuel infrastructure projects must be immediately put into place. We call on the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources to accelerate a renewable energy shift, in accordance with Indonesia’s obligations under the Paris Agreement. The court serves as our last line of defense. It must compel the state to align its energy policies with science – or risk greater climate destruction.”_ In this lawsuit brought forward by the PULIHKAN Bali Coalition names 14 state institutions, including Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto, as responsible for the Bali flooding. The plaintiffs argue that three constitutional rights have been violated: the _right to a healthy environment_, the _right to security and personal protection_, and the _right to protection from disaster threats_, particularly for vulnerable groups. One of their demands is a moratorium on all business permits that could harm the environment and climate, including fossil fuel projects and land use conversion. It argues that land that has long served as water catchment areas continues to be sacrificed for the sake of uncontrolled commercial development, fossil energy and tourism infrastructure. **Ignatius Rhadite, attorney for the Plaintiffs, said:** _“We want the court to recognize that the 18 lives lost last year were the result of state negligence that has been allowed to persist for decades. Through this citizen lawsuit, we are demanding that the ecological rights of the Balinese people be restored. We also want to ensure that the government enacts reforms so that future generations will not be swept away by floods again.”_ **Putu Wulandari Dyana Putri, one of the plaintiffs, said:** _“I was born and raised in Denpasar. I believe that the voices of the youth must be heard through this lawsuit. Young people have been actively protecting Bali’s green spaces. But unless we act, these spaces that we call home will be lost in another climate disaster.”_ The Bali climate lawsuit comes at the heels of last year’s International Court of Justice advisory opinion that holds states and polluters accountable for climate harms, and joins the growing body of climate litigation around the world. **Media Contact:** Ilang-Ilang Quijano, 350.org Media Campaigner, , +639175810934