Questions from Greens MP Michael Berkman last night revealed that the LNP State government will delay announcing the 2035 emissions target and may scrap it completely, leaving Queensland with no binding pathway to cut emissions for a quarter century.
Background
During Estimates Hearings late on Tuesday 29 July questioning from Greens MP Michael Berkman to Treasurer and Energy Minister David Janetzki revealed the following new information:
- The 5 year “energy roadmap” due by the end of 2025 will not include a 2035 emissions reduction target as widely expected.
- The LNP may completely scrap the 2035 emissions reduction target, failing to commit to any target at all, promising only to “work on” the question in 2026.
- The LNP are not “committed” to the 2035 emissions reduction target as the Treasurer claimed on election night in October 2024.
Without any 2035 target, Queensland will have no binding commitment to further cut climate pollution for a quarter-century. See transcript below.
The currently legislated 2035 emissions target is for a 75% cut on 2005 levels. The LNP voted for the target in April 2024.
Quotes attributable to Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman:
“It’s looking like the LNP lied to Queenslanders about supporting climate action.
“Delaying climate action to keep burning coal & gas will kill more Queenslanders in climate disasters.
“If the LNP scraps the 2035 target, Queensland wouldn’t cut pollution for a quarter-century.
“It’s becoming clear the LNP want to delay action until they’re all comfortably retired, leaving our kids to do the heavy lifting for a 2050 target.
Transcript:
Mr BERKMAN: On election night on the ABC you said that the LNP were ‘committed’ to both the 75 per cent emissions reduction target for 2035 and net zero by 2050. Do you stand by that commitment on election night?
Mr JANETZKI: We are committed to net zero by 2050. That is our commitment. This is where the energy road map plays an important first step in that. The development of that energy road map will help us.
We obviously know that Queensland has passed its 2030 emissions targets. We know that the federal government has not yet finalised its midpoint emission targets. That work is continuing. Our energy road map will be completed by the end of the year. Bearing in mind some of that work is ongoing, as is the federal government’s work on their emissions midpoint targets, which I understand they are continuing to work on. I have an energy ministers meeting in the next month or so. I am sure I will receive an update then. The federal government’s work will continue. We will deliver the Energy Roadmap.
Certainly next year as we start work on our sector plans, which obviously are a very important part of emissions reduction, we will get the Energy Roadmap completed by the end of the year. Through 2026, building on that Energy Roadmap work and observing what the federal government does with their emissions targets, we will continue work on our sector plans as we map a way forward to net zero by 2050.