Queensland’s future economy – Driving climate action 2020–2030

The trajectory towards our 2030 targets will build on the investments and action already taken, with clear priorities identified across each of the 5 sectors: Electricity, Transport, Agriculture, Buildings and Land. The diagram below indicates where the future priorities lie, with the Queensland Government committed to reducing emissions and achieving our targets through cost-effective and innovative action.

    • Actions so far
    • Still to do
    • 2020
    • 2021
    • 2022
    • 2024
    • 2026
    • 2028
    • 2030
    • 2019 total greenhouse gas emissions are 164 MtCO2-e, which is 14% below 2005 baseline
    • To achieve the 2030 target we need to reduce emissions by a further 31.1 MtCO2-e

  • Energy

    Actions so far (2020)

    • $145m—Queensland Renewable Energy Zones (QREZ)
    • $20m—Queensland Apprenticeships Centre for renewable hydrogen
    • $17m—renewable energy training facility
    • $2.6m—Queensland Hydrogen Taskforce
    • $10m—further funding committed to expand Hydrogen Industry Development Fund (to a total $25m)

    Actions so far (2021)

    • $2b—Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund, delivered through a $1.5b expansion to the existing $500m Queensland Renewable Energy Fund
    • $147m—Genex pumped hydro
    • As part of the Queensland Renewable Energy Zones, progressed:
      • $22m—design and cost analysis for pumped hydro at Borumba Dam
      • $40m—transmission infrastructure in Far North Queensland
    • Develop Energy Plan

    Still to do (2022–2030)

    • Prioritise investment in infrastructure to meet 50% renewable energy target, including big batteries, long-term development of pumped hydro prospective sites, further development of the Northern, Central and Southern QREZ and support for clean industries
    • Drive the growth of the Queensland low carbon hydrogen industry

  • Transport

    Actions so far (2020)

    • Queensland Electric Super Highway Phase 2 launched
    • The Future is Electric: Queensland’s Electric Vehicle Strategy
    • $5.3m Queensland Electric Super Highway Phases 1 and 2 completed

    Actions so far (2021)

    Still to do (2022–2030)

    • Prioritise investment in infrastructure to support zero emissions vehicles (hydrogen and electric)
    • Release the Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy
    • $2.75m Queensland Electric Super Highway Phase 3

  • Industry

    Actions so far (2020)

    • $13.8m across 5 years for the New Economy Minerals Initiative
    • Queensland’s Economic Recovery Plan
    • $10.6m—Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training facility at Bohle TAFE campus in Townsville
    • $2m—upgrade training facilities at Gladstone State High School to prepare students for jobs in the hydrogen industry
    • $5m Bowen Basin Gas Pipeline concept study to reduce fugitive emissions in the coal industry

    Actions so far (2021)

    • Launch Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan

    Still to do (2022–2030)

    • Support onshore processing of new economy minerals, acceleration of resource recovery and associated manufacturing opportunities
    • Explore opportunities to decarbonise the resource industry operations and the use of carbon capture and storage to assist decarbonising the economy
    • Explore the development of circular manufacturing industry
    • Continue to support skills for the new economy. Continue to develop the Queensland Government priority industries including:
      • Aerospace, Biofutures, Biomedical, Defence, METS, Beef Processing, Resource Recovery, Superyachts

  • Buildings

    Actions so far (2020)

    • $11.25m—Household Resilience Program
    • Determined the building sector’s contribution to Queensland’s emissions

    Actions so far (2021)

    • Improve emissions from infrastructure through release of Zero Net Emissions Infrastructure Plan
    • Identify potential economic measures to reduce emissions associated with buildings

    Still to do (2022–2030)

    • Prepare for Climate Positive Olympics in 2032
    • Develop Zero Net Emissions 2050 Buildings Plan
    • Improve standards for new and retrofitted residential buildings
    • Improve standards for new and retrofitted commercial buildings
    • Investigate opportunities for residential and commercial building upgrades, including energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and climatic resilience
    • Confirm the building sector is on-track to support the State’s 2030 emissions reduction target of 30% below 2005 levels

  • Land

    Actions so far (2020)

    • First Round Land Restoration Fund
    • 2019 Marginal Abatement Cost Curve for Queensland Agriculture

    Actions so far (2021)

    • $25m Second Round Land Restoration Fund
    • $35m Natural Capital Fund

    Still to do (2022–2030)

    • Develop a Low Emissions Agriculture Roadmap
    • Invest in R&D to scale low carbon agriculture solutions and industry development including: robotics and sensors, micro-macroalgal, net-zero net emissions production systems, supply chain certification and provenance