Sustaining our natural environment through innovation

The Smart State vision means using knowledge and innovation for the ongoing sustainability of the Queensland environment and the health of our communities. Queensland has an enviable natural environment that we need to look after for future generations. We have implemented a range of measures to protect our environment including banning broad scale clearing of vegetation across the state; building the South-East Queensland Water Grid as a critical part of the statewide strategy to provide water security; and developing Queensland's ClimateSmart Adaptation Plan. Innovative solutions are a common theme in addressing the sustainability of Queensland's natural assets. Environmental R&D makes up the highest proportion of  R&D undertaken directly by Queensland Government agencies working in partnership with organisations to integrate environmental R&D into policy and programs. Activity and investment in environmental R&D is only one part of the solution to reducing our environmental footprint. We also need to find new ways to work together as a community to reduce our impact on the environment. Our Smart State achievements Queensland's river and estuary systems are being protected. Despite the impact of the drought, Queensland's economic and population growth research shows that Queensland's river and estuary systems are being protected.26 Queensland is maintaining biodiversity through the expansion of protected area estate. Growth of our protected area estate will capture 74 per cent of the state's biodiversity and 4.34 per cent of total land area, drawing closer to our target for Queensland of 5 per cent.27 A reduction in water consumption for Queensland. Queenslanders are reducing their high levels of water consumption for irrigation and home use.28 Water demand on major Queensland dams has reduced. Water demand from Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine Dams has reduced from its peak of 853 megalitres per day four years ago to 411 megalitres per day in June 2007.29 Our air quality is better than the Australian standards. Research indicates that Queensland's air quality is better than national standards.30

Your Smart State, your say Queensland has a unique natural environment that we need to look after for future generations. How can the Queensland Government extend its commitments within and beyond areas such as water and air quality, climate change and biodiversity to sustain our natural environment for future generations? We welcome your feedback.

Future challenges

We still face significant environmental challenges. In 2004, Queensland's greenhouse gas emissions were 158.5 million tonnes, or 28 per cent of total emissions in Australia. On a global scale, Queensland's emissions contribute only 0.4 per cent of total emissions.³¹

However, when comparing per capita consumption, Queensland is one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gas in the world. Recognising that new knowledge about climate change and necessary responses are critical, we are investing in actively seeking and acquiring new knowledge.

Queensland Government programs and initiatives

ClimateSmart 2050 is the Queensland Government's contribution to tackle climate change. It outlines a long-term strategy to secure a clean energy future by investing in the development and deployment of clean coal technologies. In the interim, gas, which has an emissions profile half that of coal, will be utilised to meet our medium-term energy needs. This strategy also supports deployment of existing renewable technologies such as solar power, wind, hot rocks and biomass, and provides measures for households and businesses to conserve energy. In total, $414 million will be invested under ClimateSmart to deliver the next steps in Queensland's climate change response.

Future climate change initiatives will be funded by interest earned on the soon-to-be-established $300 million Queensland Climate Change Fund.

Queensland Renewable Energy Fund is a $50 million fund that will provide valuable support to leading-edge renewable energy technologies, such as geothermal and solar thermal technologies.

The Queensland Government is working towards a feed-in tariff that pays consumers for contributing energy to the grid from a home solar panel system. Queensland can implement a feed-in tariff for areas serviced by isolated generation systems and the Ergon Energy distribution network. This project will ensure that Queenslanders benefit from the Federal Photovoltaic Rebate Program.

The Queensland Government and our coal industry have committed to investing $900 million to facilitate the deployment of clean coal technologies in Queensland and potentially in developing nations that have a significant reliance on coal-fired electric generation. A joint government/industry Clean Coal Council has been established to drive this technology forward and provide advice on priorities for funding the development, demonstration and widespread implementation of clean coal technology.

Carbon geosequestration sites that will have the potential for long-term, safe and secure storage of our carbon dioxide emissions are being identified, evaluated and characterised under the $10 million ClimateSmart 2050 Strategy.

A number of low emission technology demonstration projects are also under development in Queensland, including the $188 million Callide Oxyfuel Demonstration Project, the $445 million Fairview Power Project and the ZeroGen Project.

We have committed to investing in a range of clean coal technologies and initiatives, such as establishing a Climate Change Centre of Excellence; developing the world's first oxy-fuel clean coal power plant with carbon capture and storage; building the new Kogan Creek power station that will set a benchmark for the environmental performance of coal-fired power stations in Australia; and backing the Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies and its scientists and researchers who are working on cutting-edge solutions to improve the performance of coal.

The Climate Change Centre of Excellence which opened in March 2007 establishes Queensland's credentials as a national leader in driving climate change science and policy. With 54 staff including 40 scientists, it is already a significant powerhouse that brings science and policy together to chart the way forward for our regions, economies and our environment.

A major initiative of the May 2000 Queensland Energy Policy, the 13 per cent Gas Scheme has diversified the state's energy mix to lower-emission gas generation, as each kilowatt-hour of electricity produced from gas-fired generation reduces the overall emissions intensity of the electricity generation fleet. To build on the success of this scheme ClimateSmart 2050 has increased this target to 18 per cent by 2020, to provide additional encouragement of the development of new gas sources and gas infrastructure to meet the State's energy mix and reduce the growth in greenhouse gases associated with electricity use.

The Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (QSEIF) serves a niche function of providing funding support for developers of innovative new energy and water technologies. The objective is to support the development of innovative technologies that reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, water and the generation of greenhouse gas emissions. To date, QSEIF projects have attracted third party investment of approximately $20 million, and generated sales of $5.9 million.

The Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan guides awareness and stimulates investment and infrastructure provision. The number of service stations distributing ethanol blended fuels has increased from 40 in December 2005 to 249 in June 2007.

The Environmental Infrastructure Research Program commenced in July 2006 to encourage the introduction of innovative technologies and infrastructure solutions that provide greater value for money in terms of cost efficiencies and environmental and social impacts. Current applications suggest this program will support a wide range of environmental activities. The program is in its first round of funding.

A $50 million Urban Water Security Research Alliance has been formed to address South East Queensland's emerging urban water issues. The Alliance, one of the world's largest urban water research initiatives, is a partnership between Queensland Government organisations including the Department of Natural Resources and Water and the Queensland Water Commission; CSIRO; The University of Queensland and Griffith University. This collaborative initiative has identified stormwater harvesting, aquifer storage and recovery, and evaporation reduction as priority research areas.

South East Queensland's major water catchments surrounding Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine Dams will be better protected with a million-dollar plan to create the region's largest biodiversity corridor. A vital 8800 hectare selection of the corridor has been declared a nature refuge in an historic agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and SEQWater.

The SEQWater Nature Refuge will deliver major conservation and water quality benefits, with the potential to significantly reduce water treatment costs over time. The perpetual protection afforded by nature refuges means private and commercial landholders can play a part in sustaining natural habitats, voluntarily sharing their properties with native wildlife, while balancing production and other uses on the property. Already, more than 240 properties, totalling more than 560 000 hectares, have been declared under the nature refuge program.

Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund in action Researchers at the University of Queensland developed anti-reflective coatings that allow more power to be produced by solar power modules. A spin-off company, Xerocoat Pty Ltd, has been formed to commercialise the technology. The initial capital raising of $2 million has enabled Xerocoat to employ nine staff, with an additional $8 million investment raised in 2007.

Research to help protect the Great Barrier Reef The World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, supporting a rich diversity of wildlife. In 2003, it was estimated that the reef generated over $4 billion annually in tourism, drawing about two million visitors a year. Global climate change contributing to rising sea temperatures poses a significant threat to the reef as this increases the risk of mass coral bleaching. Full recovery can take up to 20 years. If, as predicted, bleaching becomes an annual occurrence, then our reefs will be in serious trouble by 2050. Critical research into climate change and coral bleaching will benefit from the Queensland Government's latest round of Smart State Innovation Funds. Dr Line Bay from the ARC Centre for Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, based at James Cook University in Townsville, received a Smart State Fellowship worth $150 000 over three years. Dr Bay's research could help us find ways of protecting the Great Barrier Reef with implications for global reef management.

ecoBiz Financial and logistical support provided by the Queensland Government through its highly successful ecoBiz program has enabled Bethonga Whole Foods to improve both the quality and quantity of its pineapple crops, while significantly reducing its water use and operating costs. New growing and processing technologies have boosted production by 50 per cent and extended shelf life by 28 per cent. This boost to business has been achieved using 50 per cent less water, no fungicides and saving $100 000 on fertilisers and pesticides. Three crops every 18 months, instead of two, is delivering commercial benefits to this 100-year-old company that is a great example of Smart State thinking in traditional industries.

Last reviewed 29 October 2007

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