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Queensland

Population: 4.28 million (2007)
GHG Emissions: 158.50 MtCO2e (2007)

Targets and Goals

  • A 60% cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050.
  • Government to be carbon neutral by 2020.

Top Actions

In June 2007, the Queensland Government launched its climate change strategy, ClimateSmart 2050. ClimateSmart 2050 established Queensland's long-term climate change goals and provided a platform for the Government, community and industry to move to a low carbon future. It also released ClimateSmart Adaptation 2007-12, which is a five year action plan for preparing Queensland communities and industries for the consequences of climate change. The plan includes 62 actions for implementation.

ClimateSmart 2050 outlined a comprehensive suite of initiatives covering the community, energy, transport, primary industries, industry, planning and building sectors, and represents a total initial investment of AU$1.4 billion (US$881 million), including AU$844 million (US$531 million) by the Government.

Energy Efficiency

  • The Smart Energy Savings Program requires medium to large energy users to conduct audits, submit energy savings plans to the government, and publicly release information on their energy savings.
  • The AU$55 million (US$34.6 million) Smart Energy Savings Fund complements the Smart Energy Savings Program and provides incentives for small to medium enterprise energy users to invest in energy efficiency measures.
  • Development of the AU$60 million (US$37.7 million) ClimateSmart Home Service to improve energy efficiency in households across Queensland and reduce GHG emissions. For a small service fee, a qualified tradesperson will visit households to conduct an energy audit, provide energy advice and install energy saving tools such as a household energy monitor, a water efficient showerhead, and 15 compact fluorescent lights.
  • Queensland introduced a phase out of the installation of electric hot water systems in existing homes from 2010 initially, in houses within the gas reticulated network. All existing electric systems must be replaced by GHG friendly alternatives. This should reduce demand by 300 megawatts of electricity and eliminate approximately 2.6 million tonnes of GHGs. With the introduction of the Solar Hot Water Rebate Scheme installations increased from less than 1000 systems installed each year to 12,000 systems in 2005, abating 1.8 million tonnes of GHGs each year.
  • From 1 May 2010, a 6-star energy equivalence rating for new houses and townhouses is the minimum requirement in Queensland.  This requirement also applies to new work done on existing buildings, such as additions, alterations or re-locations.
  • From 1 May 2010, new houses, townhouses and units and alterations or additions to existing houses, townhouses and units, are required have energy efficient globes installed to a minimum of 80 per cent of the total fixed light fittings.
  • The Government Energy Management Strategy (GEMS) is an energy efficiency initiative across the Queensland Government. By using less energy, agencies save money and reduce GHG emissions. GEMS has set a target ofreducing the whole-of-government electricity bill by AU$22 million (US$14 million) by 2010. Agencies taking up the GEMS challenge are rewarded financially by retaining savings made on their electricity bills, thereby redirecting funds to priority projects. To date, agencies have saved 5900 tonnes each year of GHGs.
  • Funding AU$47.7 million (US$30 million) for an Energy Conservation and Demand Management Program to work with industry and the community to reduce the growth in energy demand, particularly during periods of peak use.

Clean Energy

  • Target of 10% of energy from renewable sources by 2010 and 15% by 2020.
  • Kogan Creek Solar Boost Project, the largest solar thermal project in the southern hemisphere, is a AU$98 million (US$61 million) project that will incorporate solar thermal technology into CS Energy's Kogan Creek Power Station near Dalby in south west Queensland.  The addition is expected to increase the station's capacity by up to 44 MW under peak solar conditions and improve plant fuel efficiency.In October 2007, the Queensland Government established an Office of Clean Energy to promote the use of renewable energy. The Office will: work with electricity providers and the Federal Government; map, identify and source potential renewable energy locations around the State; and work to remove regulatory barriers preventing renewable energy industry development.
  • The Solar Bonus Scheme pays customers 44 cents per kilowatt-hour for all surplus electricity generated by their roof-top solar PV panel systems that is exported to the Queensland electricity grid.  More than 42,000 customers have signed up to the Solar Bonus Scheme at 30 September 2010, with 78 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity.  
  • Queensland is the first Australian state to enact specific legislation for the development of geothermal energy.The Geothermal Exploration Act 2004 and the Geothermal Exploration Regulation Act 2005 have regulated the exploration of geothermal resources for parties interested in developing geothermal energy generation projects. Thirteen new areas are being opened up for tender for geothermal exploration across Queensland and over the next five years the State will invest AU$15 million (US$9.4 million) to establish the Queensland Geothermal Centre of Excellence.
  • The AU$50 million (US$31 million) Renewable Energy Fund provides support to industry to deploy significant renewable energy generation in areas like geothermal, wind, solar, biomass, bagasse and other renewable energy sources.
  • Implementation of conditions for no new coal-fired power station to be approved in Queensland unless it uses worlds best practice low emission technology in order to achieve the lowest possible levels of emissions and it is carbon capture and storage (CCS) ready and will retrofit that technology within five years of CCS being proven on a commercial scale.
  • A $900 million Coal21 Fund was established to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage technologies. The government’s $300 million commitment to the fund complements the AU$600 million (US$377 million) from industry.
  • Queensland established Australia's only gas scheme in 2000 and achieved the target of 13% of all power sourced by electricity retailers and major industries to be from Queensland-based gas-fired generation. Building on the success of this scheme, the target will be increased to 18% by 2020 to provide additional lower-emission generation for Queensland.

Clean Transport

  • The Queensland Government launched its participation in EV20 at an Electric Vehicle Roundtable discussion, co-hosted by The Climate Group and Ernst & Young on 19 July 2010.
  • In June 2010, the Queensland Government released An Electric Vehicle Roadmap for Queensland, for public consultation. The Roadmap represented a whole-of-government work plan to investigate the potential impacts and opportunities presented by the introduction of EVs in Queensland. An EV policy for Queensland is currently under development.
  • In 2008-09, the government has allocated over AU$1.3 billion (US$817 million) making a record investment inpublic transport infrastructure and services including rail network upgrades and new busways, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure and community engagement programs such as TravelSmart.
  • Since introducing TransLink in 2004 which oversees provision of standardized fares and single ticketing for trains, buses and ferries, public transport patronage in South East Queensland has increased by 40%, increasing by 6.6% alone since the 2006-07 financial year. This equates to an additional 46 million journeys made by public transport since 2004 reducing transport related GHG emissions.
  • Queensland is introducing the go card to make travel on public transport more efficient and convenient; and delivering 44 three-car Citytrain carriage sets between 2007 and 2010.
  • Queensland is investing more than US$38.5 million in an advanced computer-based transport modelling system to reduce traffic congestion and its associated emissions.

Waste Management

  • Queensland’s waste strategy outlines a plan to cut the emissions from household waste to landfill by 33% by 2020, partly through capturing methane from organic waste.

Promoting Low Carbon Technology

  • The AU$430 million (US$270 million) Queensland Climate Change Fund will provide approximately AU$30 million (US$19 million) every year to support new climate change initiatives.
  • AU$900 million (US$566 million) will go towards demonstrating carbon capture and storage technologies,including a AU$300 million (US$189 million) contribution by the Queensland Government from the Queensland Future Growth Fund and AU$600 million (US$377 million) from the State's coal industry.

International Development

  • The Queensland Climate Change Centre of Excellence has developed the SCOPIC (Seasonal Climate Outlook for Pacific Island Countries) software package to enable Pacific Island national meteorological services to provide seasonal climate outlooks for climate sensitive industries.  The software is being trialled in Fiji to test demand management scenarios and help make decisions on infrastructure requirements.

Contact Information

Nick Weir
Policy Coordination,
Office of Climate Change,
Queensland Government.
P: 07 3330 5816
M: 0418 960959
nicholas.weir@climatechange.qld.gov.au

Key Links

The Premier of Queensland
Climate Change in Queensland
Climate Smart Living
Queensland Environmental Protection Agency