Indigenous elders lose landmark climate battle against Australian government
Summary
The Australian government won a climate case against Indigenous elders from the Torres Strait Islands. The court ruled that the government does not have a legal duty to protect the islands from climate change impacts and stated that climate policy should be determined by the government, not courts.Key Facts
- Indigenous elders Pabai Pabai and Paul Kabai filed a lawsuit against the government in 2021.
- They argued that the government failed to protect the Torres Strait Islands from climate change.
- The Torres Strait Islands are home to about 4,000 people, mostly Indigenous.
- Sea levels in the area have risen about 6 cm per decade between 1993 and 2019.
- The court determined that climate policy decisions are for the government, not courts.
- The judge acknowledged the serious impact of climate change on the islands.
- The elders believe that rising sea levels threaten their culture and connection to the land.
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