If the targets set by Queensland’s Palaszczuk state government are achieved, then by 2050, the Sunshine State may only be powered by just that - sunshine.
To realise this goal, the minister for environment and heritage protection and minister for national parks and the Great Barrier Reef, Steven Miles has set an interim target for at least a 50 per cent reduction in emissions on 2005 levels by 2030 – a target he says is critical to Queensland’s future.
“The world is watching what we do to protect our Great Barrier Reef,” Miles said.
“We must drive down emissions to prevent further coral bleaching events like the ones we’ve seen recently. This is vital for the future of the Reef,” he noted.
Deputy premier Jackie Trad recently released the Queensland Climate Transition and Adaptation Strategies which lay out the plans for drastically reducing carbon pollution and readying communities for the impacts of a warmer climate.
“Setting a target of zero net emissions by 2050 sends a clear message that Queensland will be a leader in the low carbon economy,” Trad said.
“This will attract new investment and industries to our state, ensuring sustainable jobs for Queenslanders into the future."
“We’ve already seen a massive increase in construction and jobs in the Queensland renewable sector since the election of the Palaszczuk Government,” she said.
“And that’s only going to grow now with even more incentives for clean industries to set up shop in our state under our target for 50 percent renewables by 2030.”
“By using science to predict the future risks, we can build this into everyday decision-making; ensuring our infrastructure, businesses and communities are ready and resilient under changing conditions.”
“Tackling climate change is critical for strengthening Queensland’s economic future and for protecting our iconic places, including the Great Barrier Reef.”
This is positive news considering that figures recently released shows Queensland to be Australia’s highest emitting jurisdiction which is also responsible for 28 percent of national emissions and contributes around 0.3 percent of all global emissions.
Along with those environmental goals, the Palaszczuk state government’s carbon emissions reduction plan also includes:
• 1 million solar rooftops or 3000MW of solar photovoltaics by 2020.
• Development of an electric vehicle strategy to prepare Queensland for the transition to electric vehicles.
• Support of carbon farming in regional and remote Indigenous communities through capacity building, recognising Indigenous benefits, and offsetting government emissions with Aboriginal carbon credits.
• A commitment to improve the sustainability performance of Queensland’s commercial, residential and government buildings through the Queensland Building Plan.
