15 August 2019 Whitehaven Coal, Australia’s biggest pure-play coal miner, has once again trumpeted coal demand projections based on a scenario that would see the utter failure of the Paris Agreement. “Whitehaven Coal’s plans to massively increase coal production seem to be based on the presumption that the world will … Read More
Media release: AGL management rejects climate resolution
8 August 2019 AGL’s management today advised shareholders to reject a resolution calling on the company, Australia’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, to reduce emissions in line with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. “AGL’s argument against a common sense shareholder resolution appears to reject the science, which tells us … Read More
Win! Commbank out of thermal coal by 2030!
7 August 2019 Great news! Commonwealth Bank has become the first in Australia to signal an end to thermal coal exposure! In its latest policy update, the bank has said it will: continue to reduce its thermal coal mining and coal-fired power generation exposures with a view to exiting the … Read More
Media release: Commbank out of thermal coal by 2030
New fossil fuel projects must prove carbon compliance Wednesday 7 August 2019 In today’s commitment, made in the bank’s new Environmental and Social Framework, to exit thermal coal by 2030, Commonwealth Bank has issued a stark warning to industry and policy-makers that coal has no place in Australia’s future. Commonwealth … Read More
Suncorp and QBE abandon coal but are still undermining Paris Agreement
1 August 2019 The insurance sector globally is waking up to the fact that if it wants to avoid the growing impact on its profits caused by the climate crisis, it needs to stop providing insurance to and investing in the companies that are fuelling it. At least 16 major … Read More
Market Forces’ take on BHP’s latest climate commitments
31 July 2019 Last week, BHP Billiton CEO Andrew Mackenzie made a speech in London that grabbed global headlines for two main reasons: The language he used made it clear that, even if BHP has a long way to go on addressing climate risk, there’s no doubt that the company … Read More
Media release: Suncorp dumps thermal coal
26 July 2019 In response to Market Forces lodging a shareholder resolution, Suncorp has revealed it is exiting the thermal coal sector, meaning there are now no Australian insurers willing to underwrite new thermal coal mines and power stations. A Suncorp spokesman told InsuranceNews, “Suncorp does not directly invest in, … Read More
Macquarie’s slow progress leaves room for gas expansion
25 July 2019 Macquarie Group’s annual general meeting today saw the company face community and shareholder backlash over its advisory role on the huge Rio Grande liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the United States. While Macquarie has made some good progress on climate risk disclosure this year, the company’s … Read More
Adani’s engineers GHD stay silent on coal mine work
15 July 2019 The engineering consultancy managing the design of Adani’s Carmichael coal mine is refusing to comment publicly or meet with #StopAdani alliance groups, as protests grow over its involvement in the disastrous project. Australia-based multinational GHD has a history of working with Adani on Carmichael. It developed the … Read More
Media release: Chubb’s coal policy has an Australia-sized loophole
July 9, 2019 Chubb’s new restrictions on its underwriting and investments in thermal coal have come under attack from Australia, as groups there call upon the insurer to clarify its stance on the controversial Adani Carmichael coal project. Chubb’s policy rules out underwriting new risks from companies that receive more … Read More