Queensland government flunks first-year report card on climate, barely a pass on nature
One year after taking office, Premier David Crisafulli's government is failing to deliver on climate commitments, according to a new report card released today by the Queensland Conservation Council.
The independent assessment finds that the government has undermined Queensland's climate ambition, released an Energy Roadmap that locks in coal and expands gas, and has made progress on their election promises for nature but failed to take meaningful action to halt biodiversity loss.
Key findings include:
- Climate backflip: Queensland's 75% emissions target will be near impossible to meet under the scenario modelled in the newly released Energy Roadmap, which extends the life of coal power stations and doubles gas generation.
- Conservation funding but not protection: While the government has announced their promised funding for wildlife hospitals and 60% of the regional NRM organisations' conservation proposals, these initiatives will not halt biodiversity decline without policies to end deforestation and protect habitat.
- Protected areas promise without funds: Despite committing to 1.88 million hectares of new protected areas by October 2028, the government has up until now been taking credit for properties purchased by the previous government, and has announced no new funding for expanding national parks or private protected areas, and remain silent on whether they support the Protected Areas Strategy's 17% target.
Queensland Conservation Council Director, Dave Copeman said
Our analysis shows that after a year on from taking office, the Crisafulli Government has taken Queensland backwards on climate and taken no significant positive action on nature protections.
Instead of giving Queenslanders certainty about our future, the government has jeopardised the state's climate commitments by releasing an Energy Roadmap that chains Queenslanders to failing coal power stations and expensive gas. This will leave households and businesses exposed to rising costs and worsening disasters.
With a strong renewable energy pipeline, the sunshine state should be leading climate action by winning the renewables race, but instead we're stuck in the pits while coal and gas billionaires call the shots.
On nature, the government is consulting on private protected areas while announcing a plan to keep logging native forests for decades, which are home to endangered greater gliders.
Funding wildlife hospitals is welcome, but it won't stop the loss of koalas, gliders and threatened species unless we end deforestation and protect the habitat they live in.
Queenslanders love our natural places, from the Daintree to Carnarvon Gorge, but love alone won't protect them. We need proper investment and stronger laws to expand and manage our protected areas before more of our unique species disappear.
Queensland should be leading the nation in renewables and nature protection. We've got the sunshine, the space and the science to do it. What we need now is leadership and a clear plan that puts people and the planet ahead of politics.
Image: Queensland Parliament House, CC BY-SA 4.0 by Chris Olszewski
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