Melbourne, 9 July 2014 Australia's biggest banks risk losing customers worth over almost a quarter of a trillion dollars in savings alone if they fund new coal ports in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, a survey released today has found. The Australia...
Divestment
The growth of divestment
29 June 2014 This week, the number of people who have put their bank "on notice" (warning that they'll switch banks unless loans to fossil fuel projects stop) grew to account for over $160 million in savings alone. As far as metrics go, it's a pretty good way of...
Making your finances fossil free
4 June 2014 Are your personal finances helping to damage the climate? Chances are they are, without you even knowing it. Do you have a bank deposit? Are you a member of a super fund? Do you own shares? If so, your money is probably being used to finance the companies...
Making your finances fossil free
On 29 May and 3 June 2014, Market Forces, in conjunction with 350.org and the Australia Institute, ran forums in Sydney and Melbourne to release a new report examining how individuals can make their personal finances fossil free. A summary of the report's main...
Media release: Big Four banks lose customers over fossil fuel gamble
Big Four banks lose customers over fossil fuel gamble 3rd May 2014: This weekend, hundreds of customers with Australia’s biggest banks have shut down their accounts to protest the banks’ lending to Australian coal and gas projects. Public divestment actions took place...
Why Josh left Commbank: fossil fuels
Letter from Josh Wyndham-Kidd to Commonwealth Bank: I am writing to let you know why I decided to close my account with the Commonwealth. I have been with your bank since I opened my first Dollarmites savings account in early primary school. I remember the excitement...
Coal industry going for super funds
24 March 2014 Well here's a sign that the coal industry is in trouble. But its going to need a response. The Australian newspaper ran a story that documented the coal industry's plans to lobby fund managers - including Australian superannuation funds - to stay...
Barbara’s ANZ divestment story
13 March 2014 Barbara Thomas from Murwillumbah appeared in the news recently to announce plans to divest from ANZ over their support of the fossil fuel industry, which is threatening the local environment. Barbara and other residents of northern New South Wales will...
Westpac customers divest!
8 March 2014 At city branches in Melbourne and Sydney today, dozens of Westpac customers turned out to close their accounts in protest over Westpac's multi-billion dollar support of the fossil fuel industry. Since 2008, Westpac has loaned close to $3 billion to the...
How to avoid the carbon bubble
5 March 2014 Want to kick fossil fuel companies out of your investments but don't know how? Worried that excluding fossil fuel companies might harm your financial health? Worry no more. Market Forces and 350.org commissioned The Australia Institute to study how people...