Climate change has many serious consequences for the planet, and one of the most dangerous is the rise in sea levels. Many island territories will be affected by this change, including the Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean. Therefore, the government of Australia plans to relocate hundreds of inhabitants of these islands over the next decade, as reported by Afp.
The authorities' project has sparked outrage among the more than 600 inhabitants of this territory, located 2,936 kilometers west of Australia and also known as the Keeling Islands.
The Cocos Islands are a group of 27 atolls with a height of just five meters. The territory is threatened by coastal erosion and rising sea levels caused by climate change.
Among the 600 residents of the islands are descendants of Malaysian workers who were brought to the area to work in coconut plantations in the 1830s. The British colonized these islands in 1857, before the territory's sovereignty was transferred to Australia in 1955.
The proposal to evacuate the islands was made public in January and aims for both residents and power plants, roads, and businesses to be relocated within the next 10 to 50 years.
This option is the most "viable way to protect lives in a socially, economically, and environmentally respectful manner," stated the government report, without specifying where these populations would be relocated.
Frank Mills, the chief executive of the Cocos Islands County, expressed his "disappointment" that the government is not considering long-term strategies that would allow residents to stay on the island. Mills does not rule out taking legal action against the Australian government.
However, an executive spokesperson assured that the proposal was not yet final and that the community would be consulted.
The Cocos Islands are part of the low-lying island nations that are already forced to contemplate their future.
Australia, one of the main emitters of greenhouse gases, signed a treaty with Tuvalu, a Pacific microstate, in 2024, granting its inhabitants the right to live in the country if sea level rise submerges the island.