Queensland Conservation Council, Lock the Gate draw attention to climate, methane pledges

Conservation groups have scored Queensland’s political parties on how well they would protect the environment, with a chasm opening up between the two majors on how they’ll specifically reduce emissions.

Queensland premier Steven Miles, Queensland Hydro executive manager Chris Evans, and Labor candidate for Mackay Belinda Hassan with granite samples from the site of the Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro scheme. Photo: Zoe Devenport.

The LNP is heading into the Queensland state election with no clear plan on how it would meet the legislated 75 per cent emissions reductions target, scrapping the state’s most ambitious renewable energy project.

The party’s ‘Right Plan for Queensland’ has no strategy for reducing emissions, and after months of questions from journalists on how, where, and when it would build its ‘smaller scale pumped hydro’ to replace the 5GW Pioneer-Burdekin project, no answers have been given.

Combined with David Crisafulli’s pledge to keep coal fired power stations operating ‘indefinitely’, conservation groups have warned the target will be impossible to meet. More than half of the state’s emissions come from the energy sector, and Labor’s energy plan gives a hard deadline of turning off coal-fired power by 2035.

The LNP was asked if it could detail its emissions-reductions strategies, methane policy, or how it would replace Pioneer-Burdekin.

We did not receive a response.

Queensland Conservation Council Director Dave Copeman said keeping coal fired power stations open will “raise alarm bells” for Queenslanders impacted by more frequent and extreme weather events driven by climate change.

“If we fail to consider the environment in voting now, we’re risking the wildlife and way of life that make Queensland such a special place to live.”

Cartoonist Harry Bruce's take on the Grosvenor Mine fire.

Only the Greens party scored ‘A’ on the conservation group’s environment, climate scorecard, with Labor landing Bs and the LNP Cs.

The Katter’s Australian Party scored Ds, and One Nation was not included.

Methane cuts help safety

Tackling methane emissions from coal mines — which are now believed to be twice as high than accounted for, overtaking agriculture — Labor has left the door open for pre-draining new open-cut coal mines of methane, not just underground mines.

Researches from the Netherlands used the TROPOMI satellite to analyse methane blooms in the Bowen Basin which were coming from coal mines. Picture: Environmental Science and Technology, 2021, Volume 55.

A letter from deputy premier Cameron Dick to Lock the Gate seen by this masthead states, “Alongside the Sector Plans we will also review relevant legislation to consider a feasibility assessment of and, where it is found suitable, implementation of pre-draining of all new open cut coal mines.”

Because methane has a much shorter life in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, lowering methane emissions is a crucial step in the short-term efforts to stave off the worst effects of climate change and keep temperature increases below catastrophic levels.

Methane is also a risk for workers, as seen with the Grosvenor mine explosion which seriously injured five men and more recent fire, sparked by a methane gas ignition.

A Resources Safety and Health Queensland spokeswoman said removing methane out of seams before it is mined is better for the safety of workers.

Tackling methane emissions from coal mines would also keep the resources industry more competitive if an international price on emissions was introduced.

SeaStock managing director Tom Puddy with asparagopsis seaweed that can reduce methane emissions from livestock. Picture: Charlie Peel / The Australian

In the US, a planned ‘Waste Emissions Charge’ would bill petrol, gas companies by the tonne for methane emissions past their agreed levels.

The major coal mining firms are already electrifying as much of their fleets as possible, and pilot projects to trap methane and use it as a source of energy are underway.

Stanmore Resources is attempting to capture coal seam methane at the South Walker Creek metallurgical coal mine near Nebo and transform it into electricity.

Funded by coal royalties and the Queensland government, the 20MW plant would be a long-term stable power source for the mine.

Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson and South Burnett grazier Nick Holliday said Queensland farmers have borne the brunt of political attempts to reduce methane to date.

“Agriculture must not be the only sector of the economy to be consistently relied upon to meet greenhouse emissions reduction targets, particularly when coal mine methane is both greater in volume, and easier to abate,” Mr Holliday said.

Originally published as Queensland Conservation Council, Lock the Gate draw attention to climate, methane pledges