The Bligh government is locking Queensland into an economy dominated by high dependence on fossil fuels, high greenhouse gas emissions and high payments on carbon credits. Figures released by Friends of the Earth today reveal Queensland currently produces 190 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent and is set to increase that by 25 per cent over the next four years from new coal and coal seam gas developments alone.

Friends of the Earth spokesperson Drew Hutton said, with the current makeup of the Parliament, the possibility of the federal government putting a price on carbon is very strong.

 Biofuels are not renewable energy. Current production of agriculturally derived fuels is unsustainable and is damaging ancient forests and unique ecosystems in Australia and across the Asia Pacific region.

Friends of the Earth Brisbane extended our campaign reach this month by taking a clear message to Europe that agrofuels (biofuels) are not a solution to climate change and is driving the Queensland hairy nosed wombat to extinction. Friends of the Earth has been building its campaign position to combat the expansion of the industry, an industry that delivers E10 (ethanol and petroleum blend) to unsuspecting motorists that have been sold the lie that biofuels are clean and green.

Agrofuels brings together land-clearing, increased use of agrotoxins (chemical fertilisers, herbicide, pesticide, etc), and the merger of agriculture and energy production to form a destructive mix to further exacerbate global warming, species loss and toxification of our land and water supplies.

This month Derec Davies travelled to Brussels, the political centre of Europe to share recent research findings with 15 media agencies from the EU.