Why?

Queensland communities and regions can benefit from a carefully managed shift to a low-emissions future.

Regional Queensland is the backbone of our state’s industries. If done right, it has unique opportunities to support new industries, which can thrive in a decarbonised global economy.

In harnessing Queensland's strengths and protecting its natural and cultural assets, we can foster new industries and empower communities to grow.

Approach

There is power in the collective. 

Maintaining a wide network of regional researchers,  local governments, industry and community groups, we will create a strong knowledge exchange and feedback loop between our network and both the state and federal governments to: 

• understand local  needs;
• draw on regional experiences; 
• translate the evidence to ensure local and regional decision-makers have the latest information at their fingertips and  
• inform policy and strategic planning, and 
• support the development of practical pathways for economic transition.  

This work builds upon the highly successful Communities in Transition (Clean Growth Choices) program developed between Regional Economic Centre of Excellence (RECoE) and the Department of Environment and Science.

Aims

• Deliver evidence-based, facilitative mechanisms needed to support and enhance economic transformation. 
• Identify options and pathways for transition to net zero regional economies 
• Develop and apply community development tools to facilitate transformational decision-making.
• Assess options for secure, affordable regional emissions reductions.
• Outline the planning and institutional arrangements necessary to achieve the State's net zero targets.

Projects

1. Community Economic Pathways – Understand the community development processes needed to build place-based capacity to support regional and community decarbonisation pathways.
2. Regional planning – Identify options available at the regional scale to enable secure, affordable decarbonization to best achieve the State’s decarbonization targets.
3. Workforce skills and needs – Assess workforce needs, drivers and strategies in a decarbonizing economy.