US EditionIndigenous Australians Lose Landmark Climate Court Case Against Government
TORRES STRAIT ISLANDS, AUSTRALIA, JUL 14 – The case challenges Australia's responsibility to reduce emissions and protect Torres Strait Islanders facing loss of homes and culture due to rising sea levels, with less than 30 years to act.
- Australia's Federal Court dismissed a 2021 lawsuit by Torres Strait Islander elders seeking government action to protect islands from climate change impacts.
- The elders argued that sea level rise and global temperatures exceeding 1.5°C would soon render some islands uninhabitable, but the court ruled climate policy is for parliament, not courts.
- The Torres Strait, located between northern Queensland and Papua New Guinea, is home to about 4,000 people mostly Indigenous, with sea levels rising about 6 cm per decade and cultural sites already damaged by flooding.
- Justice Michael Wigney criticized past government emission targets as ignoring the best science, noting new plans seek a 40% cut by 2030 and net zero by 2050, while acknowledging the islands face a devastating impact.
- The ruling implies Indigenous customary and cultural loss from climate change is not compensable under current law but highlights urgent need for ambitious government action to protect Torres Strait communities.
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65 Articles
65 Articles
The Torres Strait Aboriginal people in northern Australia lost a trial on Tuesday, July 15, to hold the government responsible for weaknesses in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
·Paris, France
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An Australian court has ruled that the state has no legal duty of care to protect the Torres Strait, its people and culture from the impacts of climate change.
·Netherlands
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This group of 5,000 people accused the Australian government of being responsible for the small reduction of its greenhouse gas emissions, which is threatened by rising water levels.
·Paris, France
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Total News Sources65
Leaning Left13Leaning Right10Center15Last UpdatedBias Distribution39% Center
Bias Distribution
- 39% of the sources are Center
39% Center
L 34%
C 39%
R 26%
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