13 October 2021 As the International Energy Agency (IEA) prepares to publish the most detailed account of its Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario—in which there’s no room for expansion of the fossil fuel industry—Commonwealth Bank’s annual shareholder meeting saw its investors push for the bank to limit fossil fuel … Read More
CommBank waters down funding hurdle for fossil fuel expansion, gives climate-wrecking companies another 4 years
11 August 2021 Despite supporting the Paris Agreement and the goal of net zero by 2050, CommBank’s annual report—released today—watered down an existing (albeit ineffective) barrier to funding expansionary fossil fuel projects, and gave climate-wrecking companies at least another four years to continue with business as usual. The International Energy … Read More
Investors rebuke NAB over fossil fuel funding at AGM, despite government threats
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
Mineral Resources pursues pathway out of line with 1.5°C
The Mineral Resource board made it clear at yesterday’s annual general meeting (AGM) that they would continue to pursue dirty oil and gas development despite their peer Fortescue Metals announcing a major move into renewable energy and green hydrogen. Mineral Resources is a lithium and iron ore mining company with … 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
CommBank on its way to thermal coal exit but climate concerns remain
12 August 2020 Today Commonwealth Bank released its 2020 annual report and revealed the extent to which it’s exposed to fossil fuels and how this has changed over the past year. Although the bank seems to be heading in the right direction with respect to thermal coal and gas, the … Read More
Australia’s pariah projects: the fossil fuel proposals threatening to bust our climate goals
Australia’s ‘big four’ banks – ANZ, CommBank, NAB and Westpac – have all publicly championed the Paris Agreement. They have also committed to the global goal of net zero emissions by 2050, even though the current state of climate science means we should be aiming for net-zero emissions far sooner. … Read More