Indigenous Aussies among first climate change victims

Indigenous communities living on Torres Strait Islands, including the island home of the late land rights campaigner Eddie Mabo, are among the first "official victims of climate change", says Catholic Earthcare executive officer, Col Brown.

Speaking to a Rockhampton Diocesan Commission of Environmental Awareness gathering, Mr Brown said that the available evidence on climate change "calls for urgent responses at both church and government level".

Mr Brown was responding to research recently released by CSIRO scientist Dr Donna Green which highlights that over the past two years, half of the populated islands of the Torres Strait have been hit by unprecedented flooding from surging king tides.