On Australia’s low-lying northernmost islands, the community of Saibai is nervously awaiting the outcome of a landmark climate case on Tuesday 14 July.
The class action is the first of its kind, led by two Torres Strait Islander men arguing the government has failed to protect their homes and culture from the impacts of climate change.
It’s been more than a year since the case’s closing statements – a unique trial that took the courtroom from the halls of Melbourne’s federal court to the shores of the Torres Strait.
The ABC has visited the community of Saibai, where elders showed how rising seas are killing their crops and destroying their cemeteries, and where 10-year-old Chekayna is collecting bottles to buy sandbags to protect her home.
The community’s lawyers are hoping the case, if successful, will have a significant impact on Australia’s approach to climate change.
Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE
ABC NEWS provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad. It’s news when you want it, from Australia’s most trusted news organisation.
For more from ABC NEWS, click here: https://ab.co/2kxYCZY
Watch more ABC NEWS content ad-free on ABC iview: https://ab.co/2OB7Mk1
Go deeper on our ABC NEWS In-depth channel: https://ab.co/2lNeBn2
Like ABC NEWS on Facebook: http://facebook.com/abcnews.au
Follow ABC NEWS on Instagram: http://instagram.com/abcnews_au
Follow ABC NEWS on X (Twitter): http://twitter.com/abcnews
Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated.
#ABCNEWS #ABCNEWSAustralia
