Three New Initiatives to Take 68,000 Cars Off The Road

Planes, buildings and automobiles are the focus of three major climate initiatives ticked off by State Cabinet today.

Premier Anna Bligh said the three initiatives would reduce total carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 314,000 tonnes a year by 2017.

She said this is the equivalent of taking approximately 68,000 cars off the road.

“We are overhauling our government car fleet, improving energy efficiency in government buildings and providing carbon offsets for our airline travel,” Ms Bligh said.

Ms Bligh made the announcements on the eve of a historic Queensland Cabinet meeting to be held in Brisbane tomorrow.

She said Professor Ross Garnaut will address the special Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and discuss the work he is undertaking to assess the economic impacts of climate change in Australia.

Ms Bligh also indicated the Queensland Climate Change Minister Andrew McNamara will be part of the official Australian delegation attending the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali this month.

“I want to ensure that Queensland is represented at this vital meeting as the conference will enable the exchange of the latest research and information about the potentially deadly consequences of climate change,” she said.

Mr McNamara said the forum will provide a unique opportunity to hear and meet with international experts.

“Queensland is ahead of the pack, recognising the causes and potential effects of climate change, and putting in place strategies to address those effects,” he said.

“Expected dramatic changes in weather patterns, such as heightened cyclone activity, more bushfires, higher temperatures and more frequent storm surges, will necessitate changes to how and where we live.”

Mr McNamara said Queensland had much at stake in the climate change debate, which is as much about economics as it is about the environment.

“Queenslanders are custodians of some of the world’s most famous and ecologically sensitive natural assets – including the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest – which underpin our lucrative tourism industry,” he said.

“Altered climatic conditions will damage these wonderful places and with it the economic benefits of their international tourism appeal.”

Ms Bligh said within the Queensland Government, one of the areas of expenditure producing the most significant carbon emissions is air travel.

“However I have instructed that from now on all Queensland Government agencies will be required to purchase carbon offsets for all air travel, where available.

“A carbon offset is an activity that results in the reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and is used to counterbalance equivalent emissions elsewhere in the economy. It could take a number of forms including tree planting, foregoing tree clearing or investment in renewable energy projects.

“We will use the Australian Greenhouse’s Office Greenhouse Friendly initiative as the selected carbon offset certifying body.

“Budget sector agencies undertook approximately 200 million kilometres of air travel domestically this year and 14 million kilometres internationally. This produces approximately 29,000 tonnes and 1,986 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions respectively.

“We estimate the cost of undertaking this offset program will be approximately $350,000 across Government (not including the government airwing which will be costed separately).

“I believe this is a valuable investment in helping protect our environment for future generations and one way in which we can play an active role in helping mitigate the impacts of climate change.”


Further inquiries: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500