You might hear about islands in the Pacific being lost to sea-level rise. In these cases, the human face of the impacts is distant and, while concerning, does not have direct implications for what is happening in Australia.

However, you may be surprised to learn that a number of inhabited islands in Queensland are already suffering severe sea-level rise impacts. People living on the low islands of the Torres Strait face everyday risks of flooding and, if nothing is done and sea-level rise continues without any attempts at adaptation, the eventual need to leave their island homes.

For communities in the Torres Strait, sea-level rise is a very real and present reality. Some islands are already regularly flooded, with the frequency increasing as the climate warms. Unlike many other parts of Australia, these communities are facing the challenges head on. They are already moving infrastructure from high-risk areas, planning new sea walls, and educating their communities about the changes underway.

This video (https://youtu.be/277F-NNwuEU) provides an insight into one of the worst-affected communities, Saibai. After much effort, this community is getting a properly designed and constructed sea wall – their only feasible immediate response to sea-level rise given their circumstances. This will provide protection for several decades but, as seas continue to rise, more communities will need to face up to the threat of rising seas.

CoastAdapt has a case study on the Torres Strait islands, which you can access at https://coastadapt.com.au/sites/default/files/case_studies/CS011_Adaptation_in_the_Torres_Strait.pdf

You can learn more about the efforts underway for these Australians here (http://www.tsra.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/7419/TSRA-Climate-Change-Strategy-2014-2018-Upload4.pdf).

How willing would you be to leave you home because of sea-level rise?
Can you see a positive way to have the dialogue with your community about sea-level rise impacts?
How do you think they will react?