Climate Change in Queensland
Tackling climate change is a long term issue. Australia and the rest of the world need to start to control our greenhouse gas emissions now. Otherwise, we face real threats to our economy, community, natural environment and lifestyles.
The Queensland Government is investing $430 million to tackle climate change through the Queensland Climate Change Fund.
Climate change challenges are also addressed as part of the government's blueprint for the future, Tomorrow’s Queensland: Toward Q2.
Queensland’s revised climate change strategy
The launch of Queensland's revised climate change strategy, ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland, marks the completion of an extensive policy review and public consultation process over the past 12 months.
This strategy consolidates and updates the policy approach outlined in ClimateSmart 2050 and Queensland's ClimateSmart Adaptation Plan 2007-12. It takes into account the latest national and international science and policy.
ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland presents the next phase in Queensland’s response to the challenge of climate change. The revised strategy presents investments and policies to ensure Queensland remains at the forefront of the national climate change response.
Affordable solar hot water systems
Under the Queensland Government Solar Hot Water Program, eligible participants can get a standard installed and warranted, solar or heat pump hot water system for a payment of:
- $100 for eligible pensioners and low income earners, and
- $500 for other eligible participants.
About 80% of Queensland households use electric storage hot water systems. They are the single largest contributor to household energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Replacing electric hot water systems with a solar unit can save about 25% of total annual household energy use and 20% for households using a heat pump hot water system.
To register your interest in the program, call the Queensland Government Solar Hot Water Program Hotline on 13 25 23 or register online (Office of Clean Energy website).
The Solar Hot Water Program will help the Queensland Government achieve its 2020 target of reducing the state's carbon footprint by one third.
1 Million Women campaign
The Queensland Government is a proud sponsor of the "1 Million Women" campaign, which aims to prevent one million tonnes of CO2 pollution from entering the atmosphere.
The Premier Anna Bligh and the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability are both ambassadors to this campaign.
All Australian women are invited to join the campaign and register to cut 1 tonne of CO2 by committing to undertaking some small changes to everyday actions.
The Big Light Switch campaign
In November 2008, the Queensland Government gave away 1 million energy-saving light bulbs in the Big Light Switch campaign.
Switching to more efficient lighting is an affordable way to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and save the environment. It’s a simple action that everyone can do.
For more details on The Big Light Switch campaign, visit the ClimateSmart website.
Queensland’s strategic partnership with Clinton Foundation
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Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, and Ira C. Magaziner, Chairman of the Clinton Climate Foundation, sign the Memorandum of Understanding.
In June 2008, Premier Anna Bligh announced a strategic partnership with the William J. Clinton Climate Initiative to help Queensland reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The partnership focuses on:
- driving energy efficiency in cities and new developments
- exploring potential for large scale solar thermal power generation
- new ways of financing the roll out of low emissions technology.
The partnership was formalised through the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding by the Premier and the visiting Chairman of the Clinton Foundation, Mr Ira C. Magaziner.
Last updated Monday, November 02, 2009
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