The Norwegian government’s decision to tighten the Government Pension Fund Global’s (GPFG) coal exclusion criteria will see the world’s richest sovereign wealth fund withdraw a combined AU$3 billion from AGL, BHP and South32. The announcement comes at a particularly bad time for AGL, just days after the company’s share price … Read More
QBE dumps thermal coal due to global warming
2 April 2019 On Saturday, Australia’s biggest coal underwriter (insurer) took the positive step of committing to phase out its entire thermal coal business by 1 January 2030. QBE also ruled out providing insurance to any new thermal coal mine, power plant or transport network from 1 July 2019, and … Read More
Media Release: Market Forces welcomes QBE’s end to coal finance
Saturday 30 March, 2019: The announcement today by Australia’s largest insurer, QBE, to end its support for the coal industry has been welcomed by environmental finance group Market Forces. “QBE’s decision to withdraw insurance from the coal industry is business and environmental good sense,” said Market Forces campaigner Pablo Brait. … Read More
Shareholders pressure QBE to end fossil fuel support
Today, shareholders coordinated by Market Forces together with the $2.85 billion investment manager Australian Ethical, lodged a resolution calling on QBE Insurance to set targets that reduce its investment in and underwriting of coal, oil and gas companies, in line with keeping global warming below 1.5C. This move comes off … Read More
QBE shareholders: take action!
Tell QBE you want them to adopt your shareholder resolution on phasing out fossil fuels 5 March 2019 Today, thanks to you, we lodged a shareholder resolution for QBE’s annual general meeting co-filed with Australian Ethical, an investment manager with $2.85 billion under management. They’ve joined our call for QBE … 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
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