Profusion of standards has allowed companies to obscure potential financial impact
climate risk
Big four banks make strides, but action still dangerously slow in a climate emergency
16 November 2023 All big four Australian banks have now released updated fossil fuel finance restrictions this year that have, to varying degrees, moved the dial on what they can’t finance going forward. But, like everything with the banks – the devil is in the...
NAB commits to future fossil finance restrictions, business as usual for next two years
10 November 2023 Yesterday NAB announced that from 1 October 2025 it will require the majority of fossil fuel companies to have Paris-aligned transition plans in place in order to provide additional lending. From that deadline, to get a corporate or project...
Westpac takes two steps forward, one big step back
8 November 2023 This week Westpac announced a host of new project finance restrictions for new and expanded fossil fuel projects, but also walked back a key policy that restricts finance to the companies developing them. In a disappointing regression on its...
CommBank avoids resolution, but warned it’s not off the hook on climate action
11 October 2023 Today, Commonwealth Bank faced questions from shareholders over the remaining gaps in its climate policy. This year, Market Forces, along with hundreds of shareholders decided not to file a resolution on climate-related risk at the CommBank AGM. This...
CommBank’s climate policy update leaves ANZ, NAB and Westpac in the dust
9 August 2023 This morning Commonwealth Bank announced a host of new fossil fuel finance restrictions, bringing Australia’s biggest bank closer to alignment with its commitments to the goals of the Paris Agreement and net zero emissions by 2050. Announcing a series of...
NAB fails to address fossil fuel lending loopholes at 2022 AGM
16 December 2022 NAB faces shareholder backlash over continued support for new fossil fuels at 2022 AGM Today, National Australia Bank (NAB) faced a formal proposal from shareholders asking it to demonstrate how the company’s financing would not be used for the...
ANZ pulls the wool over investors eyes on climate at 2022 AGM
15 December 2022 Just over 8% of shareholders voted in favour of a formal proposal calling on the bank to demonstrate how its funding would not be used for new fossil fuel projects at today's annual general meeting. Last month, a UN High-level Expert Group confirmed...
Westpac’s ‘laughable’ greenwashing called out at 2022 AGM
14 December 2022 Over 10% of Westpac's shareholders defied the board to support a formal proposal calling on the bank to demonstrate how its funding won't be used for new fossil fuel projects at today’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Melbourne. The bank was also...
Major coal producer New Hope urged to wind down production as shareholders shut out of AGM
MEDIA RELEASE Thursday 24 November: New Hope Group shareholders and Market Forces are demanding the coal miner disclose plans to wind down production in line with global climate goals. New Hope faces a resolution backed by over 100 shareholders, calling for full...