Exclusive: land-clearing surge in Queensland set to wipe out Direct Action gains – report

In just three years the rate of clearing will create enough additional carbon dioxide emissions to cancel out emissions savings the government says it will make by paying farmers $670m to stop cutting down trees

A land-clearing surge in Queensland is set to create additional carbon dioxide emissions in just three years that are equivalent to those the federal government claims it is avoiding by paying other farmers more than $670m to stop cutting down trees, according to a new analysis.

The Queensland land clearing along with weakening land clearing laws in several other states are threatening Australia's chances of meeting the climate change targets it pledged in Paris last year and raising questions about the Coalition's Direct Action climate policy.