15 December 2021
Westpac shareholders are today gathering at the company’s virtual annual general meeting (AGM), where they’ll hold the bank to account for all manner of issues, key among which is Westpac’s continued heavy financing for dirty fossil fuels. In fact, Market Forces supported shareholders to lodge a resolution that will be voted upon at today’s AGM, calling on the bank to rule out funding expansion of the climate-wrecking fossil fuel industry.
Westpac has 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. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recent Net Zero by 2050 report has given us the best insight yet of the rapid energy transition required to achieve this goal. The conclusion is clear: there is no room for new or expanded coal, oil and gas projects.
Despite this, Westpac has continued undermining its own climate commitment by pouring billions of dollars into companies and projects that expand the fossil fuel industry.
Share the social media videos below!
Westpac is fielding questions about its dirty fossil fuel funding and insufficient climate policy, from both inside and outside today’s AGM. We’re sharing these questions on social media as they come through, and updating this webpage so you can share them too.
To make it simple, here are a few tips to boost your impact:
- When sharing, add your own comment to boost your impact (it’s also fine to re-share without a comment).
- Tailor your comment to the post you’re sharing, reinforcing the point made or the question asked. (Hint: try to incorporate the talking points below wherever relevant.)
- Keep your comment polite, personalised and to the point.
- Tag Westpac to make sure it sees your post (Twitter and Facebook: @Westpac / Instagram: @westpac). Tag Market Forces to make sure we see your post (Twitter: @Market_Forces, Facebook: @MarketForces, Instagram: @marketforces.
- Once you’ve done that, double your impact by commenting on Westpac’s social media posts (see below).
↓Share these social media posts:↓
We are in a climate crisis, and my bank has some big decisions to make. This is my question to them. @Westpac pic.twitter.com/dfPlb3sMh5
— Lucy Grant ✳️✳️ (@wattgrant) December 14, 2021
Talking Points
Some other points your might want to make, or have up your sleeve if the bank replies to your comment:
- Westpac has committed to both the Paris Agreement and the global goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
- The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) recent ‘Net Zero by 2050’ makes clear that achieving this goal leaves no room for new coal, oil and gas projects. Yet Westpac continues to provide funding for new fossil projects, and the companies pursuing them.
- Since 2016, Westpac has loaned at least $2.1 billion to 14 major Australian companies undermining the Paris Agreement by pursuing projects that expand the fossil fuel industry, including AGL Energy, APA Group, Santos, Whitehaven Coal and Woodside.
Learn more about the points above by visiting our ‘Funding Climate Failure’ webpage.
Want to double your impact? Leave a short comment on Westpac’s social media posts!
Boost the impact of your message using these simple tips:
- Keep your comment polite, personalised and to the point. The bank will be more likely to listen to us if we’re respectful and clear in our ask.
- Send a personalised message, asking Westpac to “rule out funding for Santos, Woodside, Whitehaven, and other companies pursuing expansion of the climate-wrecking fossil fuel industry”. You might also want to include some of our talking points (above) – remember, a personalised message will be more impactful.
- Share our social media posts on your own page.
↓Comment on Westpac’s social media posts:↓