The journey

Queensland has a solid foundation of action on climate change, steadily built up over the past decade, which has been strengthened by Australia signing the Paris Agreement in 2015 and Queensland setting the target of Zero Net Emissions by 2050.

Some highlights of this work include:

  • 2023
    • The Queensland Government is set to introduce legislation to lock in its emissions reduction targets, including the new emissions reduction target of 75% by 2035.
  • 2021
    • Queensland Climate Action Plan 2020–2030 released
  • 2020
    • Queensland Climate Resilient Councils Program grants released
    • Queensland Electric Super Highway Phase 2 launched
    • Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan released
      • $145 million – Queensland Renewable Energy Zones
      • $11.25 million – Household Resilience Program
      • $14.8 million – feasibility into the CopperString electricity market connection project
      • $20 million – Queensland Apprenticeships Centre for renewable hydrogen
      • $10 million – Critical minerals initiative grants scheme expanded
      • $17 million – renewable energy training facility
    • Carbon footprint of tourism destinations in Queensland (Griffith Institute for Tourism Research Report No 17 – joint initiative with Queensland Government)
    • Sector Adaptation Planning Plus projects funded
  • 2019
    • Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy released
    • Sector Adaptation Plan: Small and Medium Enterprise released
    • Climate Week Queensland
    • Advance Queensland Innovation Strategy released
    • Circular Economy Lab launched
    • Waste Management and Resource Recovery Strategy released
    • Queensland’s waste levy reintroduced
    • CleanCo established
    • Critical minerals initiative launched
  • 2018
    • Queensland Climate Ready program launched
    • Sector Adaptation Plans: Tourism, Human Health and Wellbeing, Emergency Management, and Biodiversity and Ecosystems released
    • Communities in Transition Pilot Project launched
    • Below50 initiative joined
    • Affordable Energy Plan released
    • Land Restoration Fund launched
    • ecoBiz reinvigorated
    • Queensland Electric Super Highway Phase 1 launched
    • Decarbonisation of the Great Barrier Reef Islands Program launched
    • Great Barrier Reef Island Resorts Rejuvenation Program launched (including ‘greening’ and ‘cleaning’ components)
  • 2017
    • Queensland target of zero net emissions by 2050 set
    • Queensland Climate Transition Strategy released
    • Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy released
    • Queensland Climate Resilient Councils program launched
    • Queensland Climate Advisory Council established
    • Sector Adaptation Plans: Built Environment and Infrastructure and Agriculture released
    • Under2 Coalition joined
    • Powering Queensland Plan released
    • The Future is Electric: Queensland Electric Vehicle Strategy released
    • Queensland Building Plan released
    • CarbonPlus Fund released
    • Queensland Treasury Corporation Green Bond launched
    • Queensland Future Climate Dashboard launched
  • 2016
    • Queensland Biofutures 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan released
    • Infrastructure sustainability assessments released
    • One million solar rooftops target set
    • Solar 150 launched
    • QCoast2100 launched
    • Drought and Climate Adaptation Program launched
  • 2015
    • Queensland renewable energy target of 50% by 2030 set
  • 2014
    • Queensland Climate Adaptation Strategy Partners group established in 2014