Today’s release of the Royal Commission’s report into the financial services industry will chronicle the recent misconduct of the major banks and plot a course for how the industry can restore some integrity. It’s going to be a long road back, but one opportunity for redemption comes in the role banks can play reshaping our energy landscape.
HSBC’s cynical coal policy leaves Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia open for business
HSBC’s coal power policy, released at its April 2018 AGM, boldly states it will not finance new coal-fired power plants, with some exceptions. It will still finance projects in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia, with further limits on the carbon intensity and financial close dates of the projects. The countries HSBC … Read More
Standard Chartered tries to have it both ways on coal
Op-ed by Julien Vincent, executive director Market Forces Published in Asia Times, 21 January 2018 While 2018 climate-change news was dominated by President Donald Trump’s announcement of the United States’ intention to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, it was also a year when the financial sector continued its inexorable march … Read More
Big four banks increase their fossil fuel exposure
Australia’s major banks have been getting back into fossil fuels over the last year, casting doubt on their seriousness in tackling climate change through their investments. This study compares the banks’ reported exposures to fossil fuels and renewable energy from 2017 to 2018, finding some very worrying trends. Climate commitments … Read More
ANZ: still not living up to its climate commitments
Our Banking Royal Commission has exposed massive discrepancies between what Australia’s big four banks say and how they act. ANZ is a glaring example with chief executive Shayne Elliott and chairman David Gonski committing to both climate and human rights principles that the bank has not stuck to. Shareholders made … Read More
NAB hauled over the coals at its 2018 AGM
NAB was forced to lay bare its contradictory climate and environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies highlighting the vast discrepancy between what the bank says, and what it does during question-time at its annual general meeting (AGM) in Melbourne.
Westpac makes no apology for continuing to back dirty coal
12 December 2018 Westpac’s hypocrisy – their statements on climate against the reality of their loan book – was a major theme at the big four bank’s annual general meeting today in Perth. And despite supporting the 2015 Paris climate agreement Westpac’s board made no apology for continuing to lend … Read More
Bank of Queensland dismally slow on climate action as catastrophic fires rage around the state
29 November 2018 “We only have $38 million worth of equipment that may be used in environmentally sensitive areas,” Bank of Queensland (BOQ) chairman Roger Davis told the bank’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Brisbane today as fires raged around the state. Davis was referring to the tens of millions … Read More
Climate change – low priority for Cooper Energy
8 November 2018 Cooper Energy – an Australian gas and oil exploration and production company – was questioned at its annual general meeting (AGM) today about how climate change would affect its business. Oil and gas companies are clearly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including global policy decisions … Read More
CommBank: All talk, still no walk on fossil fuel finance
Brisbane, 7 November 2018 At today’s Commonwealth Bank annual general meeting (AGM), chairwoman Catherine Livingstone told shareholders she believed it was unlikely the bank would finance any new ‘greenfield’ fossil fuels proposals. Such projects include coal mines, oil and gas fields, and fossil fuel infrastructure built on completely new sites. “It’s … Read More