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
Banks could accidentally fund Carmichael coal via Adani bond issue
8 July 2019 In early July 2019 Adani issued US$1billion in bonds for one part of its business (Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone), which nine major banks invested in. This company operates several ports in India. Unfortunately, the evidence shows that the Adani group of companies has regularly funded … Read More
Adani still vulnerable on insurance for its Carmichael mine and railway
28 June 2019 Like the stampede that saw almost 40 major banks turn their backs on Adani’s Carmichael coal mine and rail project (eventually forcing Adani to pledge it will “self-fund”), major insurance companies are now also refusing to insure this climate-wrecking project. All major projects require underwriting insurance, for … Read More
Norwegian sovereign wealth fund pulls $3 billion out of AGL, BHP and South32
The Norwegian government’s decision to tighten the Government Pension Fund Global’s (GPFG) coal exclusion criteria will see the world’s richest sovereign wealth fund withdraw a combined AU$3 billion from AGL, BHP and South32. The announcement comes at a particularly bad time for AGL, just days after the company’s share price … Read More
QBE’s unanswered questions
11 June 2019 It’s not often that an annual general meeting (AGM) can be described as compelling. QBE’s AGM held on 9 May, however, delivered the goods with several questions from the floor resulting in extraordinary exchanges between shareholders and the chairman Marty Becker and CEO Pat Regan. Unfortunately, these … Read More
FAR not modelling climate transition risks to business
Market Forces has named FAR as one of the 21 companies that investors should immediately divest from. Why? Because the company has had more than three years to show it can transition to be in line with the Paris Agreement. It has not only failed at this but is also … Read More
