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
ANZ: still not living up to its climate commitments
Our Banking Royal Commission has exposed massive discrepancies between what Australia’s big four banks say and how they act. ANZ is a glaring example with chief executive Shayne Elliott and chairman David Gonski committing to both climate and human rights principles that the bank has not stuck to. Shareholders made … Read More
NAB hauled over the coals at its 2018 AGM
NAB was forced to lay bare its contradictory climate and environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies highlighting the vast discrepancy between what the bank says, and what it does during question-time at its annual general meeting (AGM) in Melbourne.
Westpac makes no apology for continuing to back dirty coal
12 December 2018 Westpac’s hypocrisy – their statements on climate against the reality of their loan book – was a major theme at the big four bank’s annual general meeting today in Perth. And despite supporting the 2015 Paris climate agreement Westpac’s board made no apology for continuing to lend … Read More
Washington H. Soul Pattinson flies the coal flag and tells concerned shareholders to “sell their shares”
7 December 2018 “We continue to believe in the long term need and demand for coal” the CEO of Washington H. Soul Pattinson (WHSP), Todd Barlow told shareholders at the company’s annual general meeting (AGM) in Sydney today. It quickly became clear that climate change was a hostile topic for … Read More
Karoon Gas: not quite the environmentalist it claims to be
30 November 2018 “We are at heart environmentalists,” CEO Robert Hosking of oil explorer and soon-to-be producer, Karoon Gas told shareholders at today’s annual general meeting in Melbourne. The company, which is about to drill an offshore oil well in Peru that has a CO2 emissions potential of 110 million tonnes … Read More
Resource Generation – “dead” without Noble Group’s backing
30 November 2018 Resource Generation (Resgen) has only one asset — a coal mine they want to build in South Africa. They haven’t yet been able to reach financial close for this mine but that was not the only issue raised at their annual general meeting in Brisbane today. India’s … Read More
Seven Group and Beach Energy dragging their feet on climate disclosure
23 November 2018 Seven Group Holdings has a diverse portfolio that includes industrial services (Coates Hire, CAT dealerships), oil and gas (SGH Energy), and media (41% share in Seven West Media which includes the Seven Network and the West Australian newspaper). Seven Group also has a 29% stake in Beach … Read More
Climate a hot issue at Bluescope Steel’s annual general meeting
23 November 2018 “Our targets are based on the… Australian [emissions] requirement” chairman John Bevan told shareholders at Bluescope Steel’s annual general meeting (AGM) today in Sydney, where climate change was a hot topic. Whilst acknowledging support for the global Paris climate accord, the steel manufacturing giant said its emissions … Read More