16 August 2018 Yesterday, volunteers from Market Forces and 350.org visited QBE’s head office in Sydney and spoke to staff about its climate change policies. QBE, Australia’s largest global insurer, is facing increasing pressure to end its support for fossil fuels. The company is an important provider of insurance to … Read More
Westpac rules out Abbot Point terminal
8 December 2017 Westpac today all but confirmed it would not refinance the Abbot Point coal terminal, striking another blow to the crippled Adani coal mine. Climate related questions dominated the opening of question time at the bank’s annual general meeting in Sydney, revealing a lack of awareness around its … Read More
IOOF’s attitude to climate disclosure: “there’s really not much we can do”
23 November 2017 When asked by shareholders, at today’s annual general meeting, if IOOF would implement recommendations from the the Task Force for Climate Related Financial Disclosures, chairman George Venardos said ‘there’s really not much we can do.’ It is alarming that an ASX 100 company managing more than $143 … Read More
Wesfarmers shareholders want actions to match the board’s words
17 November 2017 Yesterday afternoon, consumer staples giant Wesfarmers held their annual general meeting (AGM) in Perth. The AGM saw a big turn-out of more than 2000 shareholders who questioned the board on issues ranging from accountability, risk disclosure, human rights, climate change and executive remuneration. Wesfarmers identifies climate change … Read More
Medibank divestment driven by health impacts of climate change
13 November 2017 Australia’s biggest health insurer today announced it will divest from fossil fuels due to the negative health impacts of climate change. This is a huge win for the thousands of shareholders, customers and other members of the community who have contacted Medibank to point out the contradiction … Read More
Media Release: Climate change spurs Medibank fossil fuel divestment
Monday 13 November, 2017: Medibank’s announcement it will divest tens of millions of dollars from fossil fuels due to the ‘health effects of climate change’ has been welcomed by environmental finance group Market Forces. The decision came today in an ASX statement in advance of the health insurer’s Melbourne AGM, … Read More
Public Health Association calls on Medibank to divest
3 November , 2017 The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) has made a strong statement in favour of fossil fuel divestment, calling on health insurer Medibank to divest its shares in coal, oil and gas companies. The peak Australian public health body, which represents thousands of health professionals, has … Read More
IAG: Federal Government is deaf on climate change
20 October 2017 In a week dominated by the Federal Government’s capitulation to the coal lobby in its latest instalment of energy policy failure, it was an opportune time for Australia’s largest general insurer – IAG – to call out the need for tougher action on climate change at their … Read More
Suncorp to divest from fossil fuels?
21 September 2017 At Suncorp’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Brisbane today, company chair Ziggy Switkowski made the quite unexpected commitment to reduce the company’s fossil fuel exposure to an ‘immaterial’ amount over the next two years. The revelation came in response to repeated questions from shareholders about climate change, … Read More