Sam Reuben

Pictured: Sam Reuben

Move over Al Gore. Sam Reuben, 35, has been to New York to talk about the threat climate change poses to his home country, the Torres Strait.

Q. Describe your day job.

I live and work in Townsville. I was involved in community development for about 14 years. These days I facilitate a leadership program for all Indigenous staff of the Queensland Public Service and have some involvement with cross-cultural awareness and recruitment as well.

Q. And after hours?

I work with Oxfam to raise awareness of the impact that climate change will have on northern Australian communities, particularly the Torres Strait communities.

My job is to convince people — government — that something needs to be done. I leave it to scientists to show why. It’s been on their radar for 10 years or more.

Q. What’s the problem?

The Torres Strait is such a small area with a small population. It’s hard to be heard. Pacific nations are making so much more noise. Thirty-six of them signed the Alliance of Small Island States back in 1990. They’re seeking action — to minimise the impact of rising sea levels, storm surges and changed rain patterns.

We’re on the back foot in the Torres Strait. What really worries me is that if the Torres Strait islands go underwater, culture goes too.

Q. You’ve been a delegate to the United Nations Permanent Forum of Indigenous People twice — in 2008 and 2010. What was that like?

 I felt huge joy and was very aware of who I was there representing.

Q. What put climate change on your radar?

At the UN Permanent Forum, the first time, there was a young fella from Guam —
he was 23 and the only person representing his country. What he said was full of passion and came from the heart. He lived and breathed his country and culture. The Guam guy got me thinking, and reading reports, and finding out more for myself. I’ve been writing letters, lobbying, advocating ever since.