After being sworn in as Queensland’s 40th Premiere, Steven Miles uses his first speech to announce his government’s priorities, which included ramping up the state previously inadequate emissions reduction targets (ERT), bringing Queensland targets more inline with the ERT’s needed to avoid catastrophic climate harm.
Leading Queensland environment groups had called for a target of at least 90% emissions reductions by 2035, and while the new ERT falls short of this amount, 75%, it sets a floor on federal ambition, as it brings the sunshine state more inline with the ERT’s of NSW and the ACT.
To bridge the gap between regional Queensland and urban centres in the south, Steven Miles has focussed his announcement on job creation and assisting industries to transition away from heavily polluting products and to create growth in green manufacturing and renewable energy production.
As the climate warms, Queensland is home to the front line communities who are most at risk from the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, like bushfires, droughts, floods, heatwaves and cyclones.
While environmental groups see this announcement as a positive step in the right direction, they want it to be backed up with rapid action and future increases to the state’s ERT’s.
The following experts and members of local Queensland environment groups are
