Federal court dismisses landmark Torres Strait climate case but warns of ‘bleak future’ without urgent action

<p>Class action led by two community leaders argued government had legal duty of care to prevent or deal with damage linked to global heating</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton?CMP=cvau_sfl">Sign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter here</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/15/news-live-tony-burke-jillian-segal-advance-antisemitism-anthony-albanese-china-xi-jingping-hannah-thomas-greens-police-protest-ntwnfb">Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>The federal court has dismissed a landmark case brought by two Torres Strait community leaders that argued the Australian federal government breached its duty of care to protect the Torres Strait Islands from climate change.</p><p>In delivering the decision, however, Justice Michael Wigney noted: “There could be little if any doubt that the Torres Strait Islands and their inhabitants face a bleak future if urgent action is not taken to address climate change and its impacts.”</p><p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/10/sign-up-for-the-clear-air-australia-environment-newsletter-with-adam-morton">Get Guardian Australia environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as an email</a></strong></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jul/15/torres-strait-island-landmark-climate-case-dismissed-federal-court">Continue reading...</a>