UPDATE 26 June 2020 150 Commonwealth Bank shareholders, led by Guy and Kim Abrahams, have written to the bank, demanding answers over apparent breaches of the bank’s climate policy. Read about the action and CommBank’s initial response here. Original post – 28 May 2020 Commonwealth Bank shareholders are demanding answers … Read More
Getting out of coal can’t save CommBank scrutiny at its AGM
16 October 2019 In August, Commonwealth Bank took a major step forward when it committed to get out of thermal coal by 2030, a commitment that no other major bank has so far made. Today, shareholders showed their appreciation for this commitment, but quickly moved to hold the bank to … Read More
NAB, ANZ and Westpac hit with climate risk shareholder resolutions
10 October 2019 Market Forces has lodged shareholder resolutions with NAB, ANZ and Westpac, calling on the three major banks to reduce their exposure to coal, oil and gas in line with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. The resolutions come after the major banks have continued to lend … Read More
Media Release: Three major banks face shareholder resolutions on climate action
Westpac, NAB and ANZ called upon to reduce exposure to fossil fuels in line with the Paris Agreement’s climate change goals. Thursday 10 October 2019 Environmental finance organisation Market Forces is today lodging shareholder resolutions with Westpac, NAB and ANZ today. The resolutions call for a reduction in lending and … 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
Our Future: clean energy a test for banks’ rehabilitation
Today’s release of the Royal Commission’s report into the financial services industry will chronicle the recent misconduct of the major banks and plot a course for how the industry can restore some integrity. It’s going to be a long road back, but one opportunity for redemption comes in the role banks can play reshaping our energy landscape.
Big four banks increase their fossil fuel exposure
January 2019 Australia’s major banks have been getting back into fossil fuels over the last year, casting doubt on their seriousness in tackling climate change through their investments. This study compares the banks’ reported exposures to fossil fuels and renewable energy from 2017 to 2018, finding some very worrying trends. … Read More
CommBank: All talk, still no walk on fossil fuel finance
Brisbane, 7 November 2018 At today’s Commonwealth Bank annual general meeting (AGM), chairwoman Catherine Livingstone told shareholders she believed it was unlikely the bank would finance any new ‘greenfield’ fossil fuels proposals. Such projects include coal mines, oil and gas fields, and fossil fuel infrastructure built on completely new sites. “It’s … Read More