How Queensland’s Ties to Climate Deniers Are Hindering Albanese’s Efforts to Reduce Emissions | Clear Air

Meeting Australia’s emissions reduction goals is tough, especially with the Queensland Liberal National government’s recent actions. Their new energy roadmap seems more about politics than progress. It appears aimed at satisfying climate skeptics within the party rather than genuinely addressing climate change.

Queensland’s treasurer, David Janetzki, has declared plans to drop the former Labor government’s goal of having 80% of electricity sourced from renewables by 2035. Instead, he emphasizes that coal will “play a critical role” in the energy mix until at least 2046. This means we’ll keep relying on coal for many more years, despite promises to move towards cleaner energy. The government has even pledged $1.6 billion to extend the life of coal plants.

To make matters worse, the government aims to significantly increase gas-fired power, including a new 400-megawatt gas plant in central Queensland, supported by nearly $500 million. While Janetzki spoke of adding renewables as part of the transition, plans for large-scale solar and wind have been dramatically cut.

Queensland does promise up to 6.8 gigawatts of new renewable capacity by 2030, but this is really just repeating what private investors already plan with federal support. After 2030, the growth in clean energy is expected to slow dramatically, with only 4.4 gigawatts projected through 2035.

These setbacks could lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade. What’s alarming is that the roadmap doesn’t even mention “climate change” or “fossil fuels.”

Janetzki defends his approach as “pragmatic and realistic,” claiming it’s economically sound. However, experts are skeptical. They argue that transitioning from fossil fuels sooner is likely to be less expensive than delaying it. Big energy investors need clarity on when they should invest in cleaner options, but this current approach sends a confusing message.

Queensland, the largest polluting state in Australia, has abundant sunshine and land but lags behind in renewable energy. In the past year, only 32% of the state’s power came from renewables, while coal accounted for 64%. For comparison, the national average shows 42% of electricity comes from renewable sources.

Interestingly, global trends show that renewable energy generation has surpassed coal for the first time, driven largely by increased solar energy. Yet, Queensland seems to be dragging its feet while others are charging ahead.

This lack of action might explain why Premier David Crisafulli can confidently claim commitment to cutting emissions by 75% by 2035 and achieving net-zero without a solid plan for phasing out coal and boosting renewables.

Overall, these developments could have national implications. As Queensland steps back, the Australian government may need to ramp up its efforts to cut pollution.

For further exploration of renewable energy trends worldwide, you might want to read this Guardian piece on global renewable energy surpassing coal.

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