In brief - Councils can take action to offset litigation
risk
There are a number of things councils should do to offset the
risk of litigation by asset owners who are projected to be affected
by rising sea levels.
Rising sea levels may pose significant litigation risk for
councils
Despite the naysayers, climate change seems inevitable: the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change's 2013 report projected a rise
in sea levels of up to 0.98m by 2100.
Councils approving developments in locations susceptible to
rising sea levels (or failing to warn of its risks when providing
information about sites) are an obvious target to litigant asset
owners who suffer inundation attributable to climate change.
Drastically diminished asset values and economic losses from
climate-related business interruption means that future liability
accruing to councils by litigated recoveries is potentially
catastrophic.
