The Department of Environment and Science (DES) has released a new climate plan outlining the State’s blueprint for reaching emissions and renewables targets in the years ahead.
Minister for the Environment, Meaghan Scanlon said Pathways to a climate resilient Queensland (Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy 2017–2030) aimed to establish the State as a national leader in a low-carbon economy.
Ms Scanlon said the Strategy would be driven by investment in energy, resources, manufacturing, transport, land and agriculture, tourism and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Strategy built on work such as the $2 billion renewable energy fund, the world’s longest network of electric vehicle chargers, the Land Restoration Fund and Australia’s only publicly-owned renewable energy company, Clean Co.
Ms Scanlon said the first action item would be the launch of the second round of funding for the Land Restoration Fund.
“Queensland is almost halfway to meeting its 2030 emissions reduction target and this plan will put us in the fast lane for more jobs in more diverse industries,” she said.
“That begins with $25 million for the second round of our Land Restoration Fund.”
She said the first round saw more than 600 jobs created, 1.8 million hectares of land restored and more than 1.9 million tonnes of carbon out of the atmosphere, and “now we’re putting the call out for even more projects”.
Ms Scanlon said the Government would be engaging with Queensland’s industries and communities over the coming months to build on future action.
The Government’s 35-page Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.
