UN: Australia Climate Inaction Violated Islanders' Rights

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Image copyright: reuters

The Facts

  • On Friday, a UN committee found that Australia violated the human rights of Torres Strait Islanders by failing to adequately protect them from the impacts of climate change.

  • The committee stated that Australia had violated two of the three human rights set out in the 1966 UN Treaty the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights — pertaining to culture and family life.

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The Spin

Narrative A

The Torres Strait Islanders have made international legal history with their landmark complaint, which has now been corroborated by the UN. This finding is a massive win for the islanders and also sets a firm legal precedent for governments worldwide to do more to fight the impending threat of climate change.

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Narrative B

Climate and environmental disasters have been predicted by modern-day doomsayers for decades. None of the apocalyptic predictions have come true so far; why would this time be any different?

Competitive Enterprise Institute

Metaculus Prediction