1. Policy framework

1.1 ClimateQ

ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland is the blueprint for Queensland's move towards a low-carbon economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Released in August 2009, ClimateQ consolidates and updates previous policy frameworks, including ClimateSmart 2050 and ClimateSmart Adaptation Plan 2007-12.

ClimateQ includes a mix of short, medium and long term measures to reduce Queensland's greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the national emissions reduction target of 60 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050.

ClimateQ is investing $196 million on a mix of actions are designed to tackle climate change across the key sectors in the State, including energy, planning and building, primary industries and transport. These investments and policies will help tackle the climate change challenges across the following sectors:

• Energy
• Queensland business
• Planning and building
• Community
• Primary industries
• Transport
• Ecosystems
• Government

1.2 Planning and building in ClimateQ

Planning and building is a priority sector as Queensland , compared to the rest of Australia, has experienced above average population growth for more than twenty years. This has driven a rapid rate of urban growth and pressures on essential infrastructure. Queensland's infrastructure and buildings will come under increasing pressure from a changing climate with expected rises in temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events, storm surges and flooding.

ClimateQ aims to ensure that planning and building design play a key role in building communities' resilience to the impacts of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The following are ClimateQ's key initiatives for the planning and building sector:

• Cleaner Greener Buildings
• Green Building Skills Fund
• Green Door to High Performance Developments
• Improved Mapping for Climate Change Responses
• Facilitating Low Emission Energy Generation in Commercial Buildings