Eight inhabitants of the islands in the Torres Strait, north of Australia, submit the complaint to the human rights commission of the UN in Geneva. They accuse the government of the conservative prime minister Scott Morrison not to take measures against the climate change. They find that Canberra due to the lack of actions to reduce the CO2-emissions are obligations around human rights not to comply. According to lawyers of the ngo ClientEarth is a violation of the government as the right to culture, family and life of the residents.
According to the islanders, the effects of climate change already visible through the increase of the sea level, strong getijdenwisselingen, erosion and flooding. The islands are inhabited by descendants of the original inhabitants, and contain spiritual sites. "The idea that my grandchildren or even great-grandchildren will be obliged to leave by the effects that we're not in the hand, is terrible," said a resident to The Guardian.