Low-carbon energy
The Department of Mines and Energy promotes and supports a range of activities that will transition Queensland to a low-carbon energy future. These activities involve developing and evaluating policies and initiatives that allow environmental, economic and social outcomes from the energy sector to be maximised.
A significant step in moving towards a low-carbon energy future is addressing greenhouse gas emissions from energy industries. The stationary energy sector produces approximately 40 per cent of Queensland's total greenhouse gas emissions.
Energy pollutants to air, land and water are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency, and also in some circumstances by local governments, through conditions on development approvals or environmental authorities. These conditions are imposed to keep emissions at acceptable levels.
Reducing greenhouse emissions
Developing cleaner energy generation and energy conservation technologies to combat climate change presents a global challenge. Greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced whilst cost effective and reliable energy supplies are maintained to feed economic growth, maintain political stability and meet social needs.
Internationally, a range of solutions are pursued to deliver a more environmentally sustainable energy sector. Queensland is no different. On 12 April 2007, at a meeting of the Council for the Australian Federation, Queensland and other Australian States and Territories agreed that a national emissions trading scheme would place Australian on a path towards achieving a 60 per cent reduction in national emissions by 2050, compared with 2000 levels.
Working with industry and the community, the Department of Mines and Energy will implement a range of new Smart Energy Policy initiatives to meet this target.
These new initiatives will build on the strategies and policies currently employed by the Department of Mines and Energy, to manage the impact of Queensland's stationary energy sector in contributing to climate change. Queensland will transition to a low-carbon energy future through:
The Department will also help all sectors of the community to conserve energy - reducing the State's contribution to climate change.
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