On 29 June 2022, Queensland universities came together with delegates from Queensland Government, local councils, peak bodies, first nations groups and industry to inform and discuss the key challenges and opportunities to meet Queensland’s climate targets of:
50% Renewable energy by 2030;
30% emissions reduction by 2030; and
Net-zero emissions by 2050
Held as part of the Sustainability Research & Innovation (SRI) 2022 Satellite Event at QUT, leading academics across a range of disciplines presented evidence-based findings followed by Q&A and discussion with delegates over three session themes:
- Regional Transitions: led by Prof. the Hon. John McVeigh, Executive Director, Institute for Resilient Regions and Rural Economies Centre of Excellence, USQ, with presentations by Prof. John Rolfe (CQU), Prof. Allan Dale (JCU), Prof. Hurriyet Babacan (UQ), and chaired by A/Prof Ben Lyons;
- Removing Barriers to Decarbonisation led by Prof. Greg Marston, Director, Centre for Policy Futures, UQ; with presentations by Prof. Maxine Newlands (JCU), SMI’s Prof. Neville Plint (UQ), A/Prof. Felicity Deane (QUT), and CPF’s Dr Lynette Molyneaux (UQ); and
- Powering the Regions Fund: Land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) led by Prof. Brendan Mackey, Director of the Climate Action Beacon Griffith University, with presentations by Brendan, Prof. Rowena Maguire (QUT), Prof. John Quiggin (UQ), and Dr Don Butler (ANU).
The outcomes of the Forum are being developed into a policy brief to be delivered to Queensland Government by the end of July. The Forum marks the start of what is envisioned to be an on-going dialogue and cooperation between Queensland universities, governments and industry.
