MEDIA RELEASE
5 October 2021
New climate action targets needed for Queanbeyan-Palerang
New targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions are needed for Queanbeyan-Palerang after the NSW Government announced it aimed to halve emissions by 2030, The Greens said today.
Greens lead candidate for QPRC, Katrina Willis, said the latest scientific assessments indicated that we need to rapidly cut emissions levels by 2030 (between 45 – 50% below 2005 levels) for a reasonable prospect of keeping global average temperature rises within safe limits.
“The NSW government has responded to the latest science by announcing it will move faster, halving emissions by the end of this decade, which is the most critical time for climate action,” Ms Willis said.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) has a goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, for its own operations only, about 1% of all emissions in the local government area (LGA). This goal is in line with the NSW Government’s policy.
Unlike the state plan, QPRC has no interim targets, making it hard to gauge progress and risking failure. The community action plan, which covers non-council activities in the LGA. has no targets at all.
“QPRC needs to set a strong target for 2030 and each five years beyond that, so we can work towards 2050 with confidence of meeting the net zero emissions goal,” Ms Willis said.
“A lot more work is needed to cut most of the LGA’s emissions which are generated by the community. We need targets for 2030 and beyond, and we need a plan to reach them. Currently, we have neither.
“The Greens propose an interim target of at least 35% and preferably 50% below 2005 emissions by 2030 for the community plan. This is ambitious given local population growth but is achievable if we work together to identify a way forward. It is untenable that this plan has no targets.
“We’re just a month away from the Glasgow climate conference where nations need to commit to targets that offer real hope for safeguarding the climate for all of us.
“But we can’t rely on national governments alone. We need to act locally as well. That’s why we need strong targets and a clear plan to meet them.”
Authorised by Sylvia Hale for The Greens NSW, Suite D, 263-279 Broadway, GLEBE NSW 2037