18 December 2020 As members of the Australian government seek to launch a probe into the legality of banks divesting from fossil fuels, NAB’s annual shareholder meeting saw its investors push for the bank to further limit funding in line with the Paris Agreement. In addition to a shareholder resolution … Read More
ANZ held to account for climate inaction at AGM
16 December 2020 Following the release of a lacklustre update to its climate policy in October, today’s ANZ annual general meeting (AGM) saw the bank’s board held to account for the gap between rhetoric and action on climate change. However, perhaps the bank wasn’t as prepared to bear the weight … Read More
Westpac 2020 AGM: funding climate failure is the ‘sweet spot’
11 December 2020 Westpac’s board knew they would be facing tough questions from shareholders at today’s annual general meeting (AGM) given the banks’ continued funding for Australia’s most climate-destructive companies, including Whitehaven Coal and Santos. The bank’s updated climate policy, released in May, was a step forward as it pledged … Read More
NAB confirms it will update stance on polluting oil and gas
11 November 2020 Today NAB released its sustainability report, failing to take the minimum steps needed now to align the bank’s finance activity with the Paris Agreement, while confirming it will update its stance on funding the dirty oil and gas sector by next year. NAB’s funding for the oil … Read More
NAB mealy-mouthed on 2030 thermal coal exit
5 November 2020 NAB’s full year results released today reveal the bank is “expected” to exit thermal coal mining by 2030, five years earlier than its inadequate official commitment to exit by 2035. NAB’s announcement last year that it would exit thermal coal mining by 2035 drew widespread criticism for … Read More
Westpac increases exposure to fossil fuel power generation
2 November 2020 Westpac’s full year results released today reveal the bank has reduced its exposure to fossil fuel mining and extraction while increasing it to coal and gas-burning power generation over the past year. Westpac’s 2020 Sustainability Performance Report also revealed for the first time the extent of the … Read More
ANZ commits to exit thermal coal, but rewards climate-destructive companies
29 October 2020 ANZ’s updated fossil fuel policy, released today, signalled an end to the bank’s involvement in thermal coal, but rewards the most climate-destructive companies and fails to move the needle on oil and gas. In its latest policy update, the bank has said it will: Reduce to zero … Read More
Bendigo Bank back-pedals on climate scenario analysis
27 October 2020 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank enjoys a lot of kudos for being one of Australia’s medium-sized banks that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels. Thousands of Australians have moved to Bendigo Bank as a result of its position on our banks comparison table. Yet at today’s annual meeting the … Read More
CommBank fails to gaslight shareholders over its gas lending at 2020 AGM
13 October 2020 Today’s annual general meeting (AGM) heard from Commonwealth Bank shareholders who clearly feel the bank isn’t living up to its climate claims and commitments, especially considering its funding for expansion of the gas industry. Gas lending incompatible with the Paris Agreement In August 2019, CommBank committed to … Read More
Media Release: ANZ, NAB face shareholder resolutions on climate action
ANZ and NAB called upon to reduce exposure to fossil fuels in line with the Paris Agreement’s climate change goals. Thursday 1 October 2020 Environmental finance organisation Market Forces is today lodging shareholder resolutions with ANZ and NAB. The resolutions call for a reduction in exposure to the fossil fuel … Read More