The Albanese Government has released the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Coastal Hazard Risk Management and Adaptation Plan (CHRMAP), a key step in supporting Cocos to respond and adapt to climate change.

The CHRMAP is a planning report which delivers an assessment of the coastal hazards facing Cocos. It estimates how the coastline might change in the future and recommends staged management actions. These include protections for the community and infrastructure like seawalls and levees – to improve liveability and community safety.

It also recommends further studies and planning - including for flooding, land use, emergency management and heritage - to inform the development of long-term responses.

The Albanese Government has already committed $23.3 million for emergency preparedness and community safety for Cocos (Keeling) Islanders in the short-term through improvements to seawalls, cyclone shelters and community support, while the long-term response is determined.

A Ministerial Working Group, chaired by Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain, is leading the whole-of-government response on climate adaptation for Cocos, reflecting the priority of the issues being faced.

A Community Reference Group to support ongoing engagement on the pathway forward and actions from the CHRMAP is being established, with an expression of interest process for joining the group to open this month. This confirms the government’s commitment to walking this journey with the community – informed by local knowledge and continuously updated scientific evidence.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Kristy McBain:

“The CHRMAP is an important planning tool, but next steps rely on strong local partnerships. The Albanese Government is committed to working closely with the Cocos (Keeling) Islands community to ensure our responses reflect local knowledge, cultural identity, connection to place and the unique nature of the islands. 

“The Cocos (Keeling) Islands community is already feeling the very real impacts of climate change. We’ve seen repeated flooding in the Kampong on Home Island, cyclones over December and January, and more frequent extreme weather events.

“The CHRMAP gives us a clear picture of the coastal hazards facing the islands and will help guide the work we do together to strengthen preparedness and improve community safety. This is about ensuring the Cocos community have the support they need now, while we plan responsibly for the future.

“My colleagues in the Ministerial Working Group and I are committed to hearing directly from locals and understanding the lived experience of the community. Their insights will help shape the long-term pathway for the islands as we work in partnership along the way.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour MP:

“My absolute focus is ensuring that the Cocos (Keeling) Islands community is advocated for and supported during this process. Our climate is changing and we need to have robust plans in place to deal with the impacts on local communities.

“Cocos (Keeling) Islands are a unique, special place, and the people there have a deep connection to their home – this cannot be overlooked. The Commonwealth has made clear that the next phase of the CHRMAP process must be, and will be, built on local partnerships."

Additional information

Located some 3,000 kilometres north-west of mainland Australia in the Indian Ocean, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands are Australia’s most remote territory. The low-lying atolls are experiencing sea level rise and significant climate change impacts, with extreme weather, coastal erosion and inundation becoming regular occurrences affecting the islands’ 600 residents.

The CHRMAP has been developed over nearly 10 years, informed by numerous scientific studies and local knowledge of coastal changes gathered through extensive community consultation including on-island visits. The CHRMAP’s key findings show people, infrastructure and critical assets across Cocos will be significantly affected by coastal erosion and inundation in the short, medium and long term.

The final CHRMAP is available on the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts’ website