A suite of straightforward reforms could slash Queensland’s methane emissions and help keep the state—and Australia—on track to meet their emissions targets, new analysis by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) has found.

The report, titled Plugging the Leaks: Mapping Methane Regulation in Queensland, found 50% of Australia’s fugitive methane emissions were generated by coal mines in Queensland, yet methane emissions in the state were barely regulated.

“It is now clear that if Australia is going to tackle methane emissions, we have to tighten regulations around Queensland’s fossil fuel projects,” EDO Managing Lawyer Revel Pointon said. “The best way to do that, of course, is to refuse all new coal, gas and oil projects.

“Our report shows that approving new or expanded fossil fuel projects is completely contrary to the state’s emissions reductions policies and would pose an unjustifiable limitation on human rights.

“But if governments continue to approve these projects, they must set mandatory standards that minimise the climate risks.

“It is also essential that they make existing projects conform to world’s best practice when it comes to avoiding and mitigating methane emissions.

“While the Queensland Government has committed to decarbonising the existing resource sector, we are yet to see any action in this regard.

“The good news is that there are many measures the Queensland Government could take to quickly and significantly reduce methane emissions to keep us on track to reaching net zero.

“We encourage all parties and policy makers to adopt these recommendations as prudent, reasonable measures to help keep climate change levels as safe as possible.”

KEY REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Tighten approval conditions: Requirefossil fuels projects to minimise and monitor emissions as a condition of planning approval. (Recs 1 and 3)
  • Adequately resource monitoring and compliance: Increase funding for enforcement of methane emissions regulations. (Rec 4)
  • Banning venting and flaring: Initiate astaged reduction in permissible levels ofventing and flaring, ending in a ban on these practices. (Rec 6)
  • Tighten standards for post closure management: Setstringentnew standards for the management of closing fossil fuel projects and those in care and maintenance. (Rec 7)
  • Put a price on pollution: Putting a price on methane emissions will provide a financial incentive for companies to reduce pollution. (Rec 8)

Methane has about 84-87 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe and 28-36 times over 100 years. If global methane emissions are cut in half by this end of this decade, the rate of warming being experienced now could be slowed by 30%.

REFERENCES

[1] Plugging the Leaks: Mapping Methane Regulation in Queensland, EDO, June 2024.

MEDIA CONTACT: James Tremain | 0419 272 254