Queensland Conservation 166 Ann St, Brisbane, QLD 4000
ABN: 89 717 887 219
Ph: 07 3221 0188 Fax: 07 3229 7992
Media Release
20th
August 2009
For immediate release
Will Queensland’s ClimateQ plan reduce state emissions?
The release of the Queensland ClimateQ strategy today signals that the Bligh Government is at
least beginning to move on Climate Change according to Peak Environment Group, Queensland
Conservation (QCC).
However, the question must be asked; will this strategy actually reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in Queensland?
“The answer is; probably not,” said Toby Hutcheon, Executive Director of QCC.
“Queensland has the highest greenhouse emissions per person in Australia. We are also one of
the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of climate change. We have an absolute
vested interest in reducing those impacts.
“This will only happen if the Queensland Government takes the lead to give us a safe climate for
the future,” said Hutcheon.
“The notion that coal-fired power stations of any type are part of our energy future is nonsense.
All coal-fired energy generates huge greenhouse gas emissions.”
Storing that CO2 underground, if appropriate geological formations can even be found, is not a
solution it is an expensive, temporary band-aid.
Despite years of promotion and funding by the Queensland Government ‘clean coal’ technologies
are still decades away from viability.
“What is needed is immediate action to reduce our current greenhouse gas emissions; not those
we might be emitting a decade or two from now,” said Hutcheon.
Queensland Conservation has identified five critical steps to effective greenhouse gas reductions.
These initiatives, coupled with a revised carbon policy by the Commonwealth could halve
emissions by 2020.
1.
Reductions in energy use-across all sectors- 30% by 2020
2.
Fast track the switch to renewables-introduce a Queensland solar (15%), wind (15%)
and geothermal (10%) scheme for 2020
3.
Prioritise public and alternative transport by shifting transport budget funding away from
roads on 2:1 basis (Energy and transport account for over 60% of emissions. Queensland
emissions from these sectors have risen 89% since 1990-National Greenhouse Accounts
2006)
Queensland Conservation 166 Ann St, Brisbane, QLD 4000
ABN: 89 717 887 219
Ph: 07 3221 0188 Fax: 07 3229 7992
4.
Reduce emissions from land clearing by strengthening tree clearing laws on endangered
and vulnerable landscapes and offering incentives to stop regrowth clearing
5.
Build a green economy in Queensland by phasing out coal use and investing in
renewables and green collar jobs
Environment groups, including QCC, proposed these essential initiatives in our document Plan B,
An Agenda for Immediate Climate Action in June 2009.
In the last year, Queensland communities have faced drought, 2/3 of the State under water,
severe storms in SEQ, a massive oil spill from a vessel steaming into a cyclone and tropical
diseases tracking south. These are the impacts that could become commonplace and will get
worse without action.
For More Information
Toby Hutcheon
0419 664 503
‘Plan B’ is available for download at
NEWS 
