A decision by a court in Switzerland this week to hear a climate lawsuit brought by four Indonesian fishermen against cement giant Holcim has been welcomed by campaigners as an important step for climate justice, even as they warned the legal fight could still stretch on for years.

On Monday, the Cantonal Court of Zug ruled that it would admit the lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed to a full assessment on its merits.

The complaint accuses Holcim, a Swiss company based in the town of Zug, of having “significantly contributed to climate change with its massive CO2 emissions – and continues to do so”, according to Swiss Church Aid, which is supporting the legal action.

Swiss Church Aid HEKS/EPER is a Swiss development and humanitarian organisation founded by Protestant churches that works on social justice, human rights and climate issues. It is backing the plaintiffs in partnership with the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights and the Indonesian environmental group Walhi.

The ruling marked the first time a Swiss court had agreed to hear a climate lawsuit against a corporation, Swiss Church Aid said.

“The legal relevance of climate change is now recognised by the world’s highest courts as well as courts in numerous other countries. The development is clear: major greenhouse gas emitters are increasingly being held accountable,” the organisation wrote, adding that it was an “important step” towards climate justice.