Article: Queensland unveils $87m climate change plan

[ozbob]

From News.com click here!

Queensland unveils $87m climate change plan

Queensland unveils $87m climate change plan

By Gabrielle Dunlevy

AAP

August 20, 2009 12:25pm

NO new coal-fired power stations will be built in Queensland unless they use world's best emissions technology and are ready to store and capture carbon, the Queensland state government says.
Premier Anna Bligh made the announcement today, ahead of releasing the Government's new climate change strategy, ClimateQ: Towards a Greener Queensland.

It updates the 2007 document, ClimateSmart 2050, in light of the Federal Government's planned carbon pollution reduction scheme and renewable energy targets, and also contains the latest science and projections.

Ms Bligh told parliament the plan contained $87.2 million in funding for new climate change initiatives.

This includes $60 million for transport initiatives, as more than 10 per cent of the state's emissions come from transport and congested traffic produces up to 30 per cent more emissions than free-flowing roads.

Among the suite of schemes is a $39 million anti-congestion plan, including a new intelligent traffic management system and programs to help people change their travel habits and offset their car's emissions.

Along with the ClimateQ strategy, the Government will release a report by the CSIRO on the future of carbon biosequestration in the state.

Environment Minister Kate Jones said the report discussed the need to weigh the benefits of carbon storage against food production, biodiversity conservation, water use and environmental health.

But Queensland's rural land had significant potential to act as carbon "sinks", storing large amounts of carbon, over 40 to 50 years, Ms Jones said.

"Putting a value on this biosequestration in Queensland could breathe new life into the restoration of our landscape and could generate another source of income for our farmers," she said.

[ozbob]

Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability
The Honourable Kate Jones
20/08/2009

NEW CHAPTER FOR QUEENSLAND'S ENERGY SECTOR

The Bligh Government is demonstrating that it's serious about tackling the energy sector's greenhouse gas emissions through a suite of actions announced today.

Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones and Mines and Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said the revised climate change strategy, ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland included:

   Energy Conservation and Demand Management Program ($47.7million);
   Clean Energy in remote communities ($5million);
   Queensland Renewable Energy Plan; and
   Conditions for new coal-fired power generation.

Ms Jones said as one of the fastest growing and most energy intensive states in Australia, ClimateQ included a package of measures aimed squarely at reducing Queensland's overall energy consumption and reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources.

"The Bligh Government is partnering with electricity distributors Ergon Energy and Energex to deliver a demonstration project that will help customers reduce their energy consumption rates and save money on their energy costs in their home or business," Ms Jones said.

"Under the Energy Conservation and Demand Management Program, our aim is realise potential savings of $4 billion in energy capital savings - about one and a half power stations - and 22,200 gigawatt hours by 2020."

"And it could also potentially lead to a scheme that rewards householders and businesses who demonstrate smart, efficient demand management and electricity use.

"It will complement the introduction of an emissions trading scheme in Australia but it also demonstrates that Queensland will not delay practical steps we can take now to reduce our carbon footprint and prepare consumers for its introduction.

"Producing energy and using it is the most significant contributor to our State's greenhouse gas emissions. The energy sector alone produced more than half of Queensland's emissions in 2007 - aided by strong economic and population growth our emissions have almost doubled since 1990."

Mr Robertson said should the demonstration program be successful and the measures be applied more broadly by Energex and Ergon across the network, billions of dollars in savings could be realised over the next ten years.

"For householders and communities, this could involve targeting major household appliances such as air conditioners, pool pumps and hot water systems, promoting solar water heating and more efficient lighting as well as the installation of smart meters.

"For large commercial and industrial customers, a range of measures could be considered such as more efficient air conditioning or fuel switching from electricity to gas.

"In addition, we will investigate customer reaction to a pricing model which rewards customers for managing their energy use at peak times.

"For example, a householder might use the washing machine or dishwasher earlier in the day or later at night and reduce demand on the electricity supply system at peak times. They may, in turn, be rewarded with a reduced tariff.

"The greenest kilowatt of energy is the one we don't use - our Government is committed to supporting and rewarding Queenslanders who are committed to lowering their energy use," he said.

"This program will work with large commercial and industrial energy users to invest in energy efficient equipment with the aim of reducing the growth in energy use and the need to expand or upgrade the electricity network."

Ms Jones said further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions would be achieved by changing the way energy is supplied and used in 34 remote communities in Western Queensland, Cape York and the Torres Strait.

These communities are too remote to be connected to the State electricity grid and will need a mix of renewable energy, energy conservation, energy efficiency and education initiatives to tackle climate change.

"As a result, these 5,800 households rely almost solely on diesel fuel for electricity generation," Ms Jones said.

"Last financial year, 28 million litres of fuel was used to supply electricity to these communities. This amount of fuel would fill more than 11 Olympic sized swimming pools and generated more than 80,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases.

"This initiative aims to reduce electricity consumption, and therefore diesel consumption, in these communities by 20 per cent over the next five years.

"If we reach this level of reduction, we will also reduce greenhouse gases by about 16,500 tonnes each year as well as reduce household electricity bills by up to $300 a year."

Mr Robertson said the State Government would implement a mix of solutions including a range of targeted policies and programs to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy demand, educating and empowering communities to make better decisions and introducing renewable energy technologies in some communities to support and supplement diesel generation.

"For instance, earlier this year, we announced a massive investment in the Queensland Renewable Energy Plan to make sure Queensland secures its fair share of renewable energy resources over the next 10 years," he said.

"The Plan aims to leverage up to $3.5 billion in new investment in Queensland's renewable energy sector, create up to 3,500 new green jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 40 million tonnes.

"Further reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be achieved through Conditions for New Coal-fired Power Generation and Electricity Demand Management Regulation initiatives.

"Together with the government's Q2 plan, the new Strategy provides a suite of new initiatives and investments to take Queensland's long term response to climate change into a new phase."

For further information visit www.climatechange.qld.gov.au

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[ozbob]

Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability
The Honourable Kate Jones
20/08/2009

BLIGH GOVT READIES QLD FOR A LOWER CARBON FUTURE

The Bligh Government is handing down a suite of new targeted measures to help Queensland move towards a lower carbon future and prepare for the impacts of climate change.

Premier Anna Bligh and Climate Change and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones today launched the $196 million ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland to rise to the challenge of climate change and buffer the impact of a future carbon price on Queensland families, communities and businesses.

Ms Bligh said the revised climate change strategy was framed in light of the latest national and international science and policy and included $87 million in new initiatives.

She said ClimateQ's initiatives swept across a range of crucial sectors that were either significant emitters or would be hardest hit by climate change impacts, such as transport, rural and remote Queensland, energy and coal, planning and building, business and disaster prone communities.

"ClimateQ is my Government's main weapon against the massive global threat of climate change and insulator against the many challenging impacts it will bring," Ms Bligh said.

"With our widely dispersed population and traditional reliance on coal and heavy industry, Queensland is Australia's main climate change battleground.

"We stand to suffer the most of any state if we're not well prepared for and adapting to a future national emissions trading scheme, the urgent need to cut down on our emissions everywhere, more frequent and severe extreme weather events and sea level rises.

"Successive Labor Governments in Queensland have been a national leader on early action on global warming.

"We ended broad scale land clearing (the single largest contributor to Australia meeting its Kyoto target), required that 13 per cent of electricity must by sourced from gas and more recently, introduced the ClimateSmart Home Service to help householders save energy, water and money.

"That hard-earned reputation has been significantly elevated with ClimateQ which has seriously beefed up Queensland's climate change response."

Ms Jones said in addition to recent election and budget commitments such as Cleaner Greener Buildings, the Solar Hot Water Program, ClimateSmart Business Service, and the Rural Water Use Efficiency initiative, ClimateQ contained $87 million in new initiatives including:

?$39.3 million for computer-based transport systems to reduce emissions and ease congestion in south east Queensland - new technologies to coordinate traffic signals and on-ramps, control lanes and monitor traffic;

?$5.2 million to reduce car emissions by promoting walking, cycling, carpooling and public transport to get to work, major events and other key destinations;

?$4.5 million for the Queensland Government to match dollar-for-dollar motorists who decide to offset their vehicles' greenhouse gas emissions - the total $9 million will be used to create biodiversity corridors of bushland across Queensland;

?$2.9 million to accelerate the planning and development of key walking and cycling infrastructure in south east Queensland;

?$8 million to develop Digital Elevation Model mapping to better understand the impact of sea-level rise, storm surge and coastal erosion;

?$6.5 million to enhance planned burn activities in national parks most vulnerable to fire;

?$2 million to help remote indigenous communities prepare for the impacts of extreme weather through training, resources and exercises;

?$1.4 million for a trial of low-emission diesel-electric buses in the public transport fleet;

?$3.5 million for a new information system to help landholders establish reforestation projects for the domestic carbon market;

?$3.2 million to help primary producers so they can better manage climate change risks and take advantage of emerging opportunities;

?$600,000 to develop green skilling and workforce development needs of industries; and

?$500,000 to work with about 50 firms in key sectors to better understand the costs and opportunities of a carbon price on business.

Ms Bligh said her Government had also revised approval conditions for new coal-fired power stations in Queensland to support the sector's transition to a lower carbon future.

"Under the new conditions, no new coal-fired power station will be approved in Queensland unless:

?it uses world's best practice low emission technology in order to achieve the lowest possible levels of emissions, and

?it is carbon capture and storage (CCS) ready and will retrofit that technology within five years of CCS being proven on a commercial scale," she said.

"Much of the sector is already embracing cleaner, smarter technologies and preparing for their widespread use, but we are moving to ensure everyone jumps on board."

20 August, 2009

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[ozbob]

Hybrid buses!   I have had a hybrid car for three years,  about time we looked seriously at other options for the bus.  How about hybrid DMUs too?   

Promoting public transport I think we all strongly support, but public transport needs to be properly supported in the first instance. 

[ozbob]

Doesn't a new additional bus route based on a combined 66 and 109 joined route make a lot of sense?

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Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
20/08/2009

Reducing carbon footprint primary driver for change


Driving down the carbon footprint of necessary car trips will be the target of a $56 million transport and roads package announced today as part of the ClimateQ program.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan and Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said while trip reduction through public transport use and travel demand management were the cleanest and greenest forms of transport use, there was also a need to minimise the carbon impact of unavoidable vehicle usage.

Minister Nolan said the package included an initiative to create a greener taxi fleet by providing incentives for operators to choose vehicles with lower greenhouse emissions.

"The Queensland taxi industry consists of over 3,000 vehicles and is responsible for about 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions," Ms Nolan said.

"While this is only a small proportion of the total emissions from the transport sector, every little bit counts and we need to investigate every possibility supporting industry efforts to bring it down.

"One of the ways the industry is already driving down this rate is moving to vehicles with lower emissions, such as four cylinder motors instead of six, and hybrids like the Toyota Prius."

Mr Wallace said the ClimateQ scheme had allocated $39.3 million towards Improved Traffic Flow for Reduced Emissions - an integrated package of initiatives that targets priority congested sections on key roads and motorways in South East Queensland.

"Reducing traffic congestion is important to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a vehicle stuck in traffic can produce up to 30 per cent more emissions than one in free flowing traffic conditions," he said.

"The aim is to improve traffic flow and network reliability allowing freight and people to get to destinations on time.

"This could include prioritising lane access for buses, heavy freight, high occupancy or emergency vehicles in peak periods.

"The project will also look at coordinated signals for highway on-ramps, variable speed and lane control and real time information provisions.

"It is expected this could realise average travel time savings per vehicle of 2.2 minutes and 3.5 minutes a day, measured across the morning and evening peak periods on all motorways and in each direction of travel."

Ms Nolan said a Vehicle Offset Contribution Scheme would enable motorists to 'cancel out' the greenhouse gas emissions of their vehicles by purchasing offset credits, with the government matching those credits dollar-for-dollar up to a maximum funding limit of $4.5 million.

"The scheme will target passenger and light commercial vehicles and motorcycles."

Ms Nolan said climate change was an issue of global significance that needed to be tackled by all levels of government.

"That's why alongside our massive transport infrastructure program, we're also looking at ways people can get around smarter - and smarter equals greener.

"Our department is looking at ways of promoting active transport options, like cycling and walking, making public transport easier to use and more efficient, and finding better ways to manage the increasing freight transport task."

Other transport-related ClimateQ initiatives include:

?Faster, Better, Safer Walking and Cycling - the Queensland Government will invest $2.9 million to accelerate the delivery of walking and cycling (also known as active transport) infrastructure to encourage Queenslanders to reduce emissions by leaving the car at home. Initially, this program will focus on filling the gaps in the active transport network between key destinations such as the Brisbane CBD, the University of Queensland, and Fortitude Valley.

?TravelSmart Schools is a $5 million project to encourage school communities to adopt sustainable travel options such as walking, cycling and carpooling and minimise private car travel. Reducing the need to travel to and from school by car will assist in reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions as well as provide opportunities to be more active. The Department of Transport and Main Roads' TravelSmart team will work with schools to develop School Travel Plans which will identify ways to encourage more sustainable travel practices.

?TravelSmart Workplaces and Events is a $5.2 million project to engage with major Queensland workplaces and event managers to develop sustainable travel plans designed to encourage people to replace car trips with walking, jogging, cycling or public transport.

?FreightSmart (including Port of Brisbane trial) - the Queensland Government will partner with the freight industry to investigate ways of streamlining freight deliveries, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimising road freight's impact on urban congestion. This partnership will provide grants of up to $50,000 on a matched dollar-for-dollar basis by industry to foster innovative and efficient freight transport and logistics practices, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and urban congestion. It will also involve investigating and trialling various options to improve freight movement efficiency within and around the Port of Brisbane, Queensland's key freight hub.

?Public Transport Planning Tool will assist the Department of Transport and Main Roads to better integrate healthier and greener transport options by measuring how easy it is to access important services such as hospitals, schools, shops and workplaces by walking, cycling or public transport. This will assist to better match public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure with land uses and reduce the need to travel by car.


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[david]

It would be nice if the government used green energy to power the electric trains in the south-east. That would make trains a truly green option!

[mufreight]

With all the hot air and effulent eminating from the lower end of George street the solution is simple and environmentaly friendly.
Uue the hot air to drive turbines to generate electricity and collect the methane from the effluent and compress it and use it as fuel for the buses.
That way at least out politicianc will be doing something productive in the field of renewable energy.

[ozbob]

... "Our department is looking at ways of promoting active transport options, like cycling and walking, making public transport easier to use and more efficient, and finding better ways to manage the increasing freight transport task." ...

Public transport must be accessible, frequent and to a lesser extent affordable. To make it first choice it must be these things.

More freight onto rail.

Will the statements above be actually translated into substance?   Time will tell ...

[WTN]

Maybe they could use the spin from articles like this to spin turbines too.  Parts of the article read like they don't work.  Come on, 3.5 minutes a day?  That's almost nothing on a 20 minute trip!  And I wonder if new public transport services will be added when they convince more people to use them.  Following what Bob said, there's no mention of more services, nor a shift of freight to rail.

[ozbob]

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
11/09/2009

More time for public comment on SEQ climate change plan

The Queensland Government has extended the period for public consultation on the Draft South East Queensland Climate Change Management Plan by one month, to 9 October 2009.

The plan aims to move the region towards a low-carbon future and help communities become more resilient to the long-term impacts of climate change.

The draft plan describes proposed actions to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from land management and future urban development in South East Queensland (SEQ).

"This plan will set the climate change policies of the newly released South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031," Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said.

"Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland sets a state-wide goal of reducing our residential carbon footprint by a third.

"The new climate change plan will help the government work out how much of the state-wide target will be achieved through urban planning in the state's most populous region.

"As nearly 70 per cent of Queenslanders live in the fast growing south east, smart planning is imperative.

"The Australian Government's proposed carbon pollution reduction scheme and renewable energy target will be critical national tools for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"However, smart urban and regional planning will also be important, with its potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and ensure communities are resilient to climate change only now being recognised."

The Draft South East Queensland Climate Change Management Plan identifies 32 potential climate change planning actions for SEQ.

These actions range from improving transport and settlement patterns to planting more trees to store carbon, increasing renewable energy and building community awareness of climate change impacts.

Last month, members of the public, professional organisations and local governments attended eight public information forums on the draft plan in Brisbane, Strathpine, Maroochy, Nerang, Ipswich, Cleveland and Kilcoy.

"People attending these forums have already raised issues that will help the government prepare the final climate change plan," Mr Hinchliffe said.

Among the issues raised to date are:

?feasible regional emission targets that are tied in with other sustainability indicators and population impacts

?alignment of government policies on sea-level rise and storm surge that affect coastal communities-including natural disaster plans

?identification of implementation timelines and outputs that are useful to local governments

?research and justification of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and climate change risks

?greater recognition of actions to improve water supply security, rural production and the management of natural resources.

"Climate change is a complex issue and people need time to understand it and put together their comments on this very important draft plan-hence the reason we extended the public consultation period.

"I encourage all residents of SEQ to read this draft plan and have their say on what they believe are the region's highest-priority climate change actions.

"By working with other levels of government, the development industry, councils and residents of SEQ, we will find practical and cost-effective ways to address the challenges of climate change."

Responses to the draft plan can be made at www.dip.qld.gov.au/climatechange

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