The Queensland Government has formally endorsed its membership to the global below50 network during an event at Queensland Parliament.
below50 was formed as a way to connect organisations who are in support of sustainable fuels that are at least 50 per cent less carbon intensive than regular fuels.
Joined by international members of the movement at Parliament House, Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick recommitted Queensland to a statement of collaboration originally signed at the BIO World Congress in Philadelphia earlier this year.
"The presence of Gerard Ostheimer, senior advisor of below50, who travelled here from Washington, and Geneva-based Damiana Serafini, transport manager at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and global lead of below50, underlines the importance of this agreement," Mr Dick said.
"We are proud to be the first jurisdiction in the world to have committed our support to this global sustainability campaign for fuels that reduce carbon emissions by more than 50 per cent compared with conventional fossil fuels.
"Formalising the agreement allows us to grow these relationships and draw on the support and expertise of the below50 global community, which includes investors, businesses, renewable fuel producers and users, and government agencies.
"It also opens the door to opportunities for Queensland with below50 Australia stakeholders in the renewable fuel supply chain, and helps us further promote the uptake of sustainable low-carbon fuels."
Mr Dick said Queensland’s engagement with below50 aligns strongly with the Palaszczuk Government’s Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan, which outlines a vision for the development of a thriving industrial biotechnology and bioproducts sector, including the production of sustainable biofuels.
"Queensland is strongly placed to capitalise on our existing agricultural and manufacturing base and supporting infrastructure to take a leading role in the production of low carbon fuels," he said.
"The supply chain runs from farmers supplying biomass in the form of feedstock to biorefineries turning this into renewable fuels, and the associated opportunities from this work will lead to the creation of more high-value, knowledge-based jobs here in Queensland, and largely in our regional areas."
Larissa Rose, managing director of the Queensland Renewables Fuels Association (QRFA), which is driving the below50 movement in Australia, said the objective was to see greater uptake of low-carbon fuels into Queensland’s transport sector.
"The Queensland Government is to be congratulated for successfully becoming the first jurisdiction in the world to sign up to the below50 global campaign," Ms Rose said.
"This world-first status is really something to celebrate, and puts Queensland in the driver’s seat for collaborating, promoting and expanding the production and use of sustainable low carbon biofuels.
"QRFA have a vision for our state, and we look forward to collaborating with the Queensland Government to foster additional partnerships and business-to-business opportunities to support our biofutures sector."
