25 February 2019 Environmental finance campaigning group Market Forces has reacted furiously to QBE’s annual results, which document another year of losses from large catastrophes with no action on climate change. QBE breathed a sigh of relief as it posted a modest profit in 2018. But the company’s balance sheet … Read More
Climate risk disclosure: Transurban still in the slow lane
“…we don’t consider it [climate change] to be one of the significant business risks or financial risks for Transurban” Marcus Laithwaite, auditor 11 October 2018 You might not have heard of the company, but chances are you’ve driven on one of their roads. Transurban operates major tollways in Australia … Read More
Media release: Korean Adani interest revealed in Freedom of Information request
Friday 5 October, 2018: A document released through Freedom of Information has revealed Korea responding positively to efforts by the Australian Government to promote Adani’s controversial Carmichael coal project. The document, sent from Seoul to Canberra in November 2016, follows a meeting between the Korean Export and Import Bank and … Read More
Media Release: Standard Chartered offers leadership on coal and climate change in key energy markets
Tuesday 25 September, 2018: Responding to the news that Standard Chartered has ruled out finance for “any new coal-fired power plant projects, including expansions, in any location“, Market Forces Executive Director Julien Vincent said: “This is what leadership on coal and climate change looks like. Decisions about how the world sources … Read More
Media release: New Japanese bank policies rule out a third of overseas coal plant finance
28 August 2018: New coal policies should rule out providing financial support to close to a third of the coal-fired power stations (by capacity) currently under consideration by Japan’s three major commercial banks, according to a new analysis released today by environmental finance group Market Forces. In implementing their new … Read More
Risks all round from Adani’s Abbot Point sale plans
23 May 2018. Adani’s plans to sell down their stake in the Abbot Point coal export terminal, with the aid of investment bank Rothschild, are a win for the Carmichael mega mine project and a clear threat to the campaign to stop it, say environmental finance advocates Market Forces (“Adani looks … Read More
Media release: New analysis shows most of Australia’s top companies have no climate plan
Wednesday 14 March, 2018: A major new study released today by environment finance group Market Forces has revealed many of Australia’s top 100 companies are failing to improve their climate risk disclosure. Of the 73 ‘high risk’ ASX100 companies analysed: Less than two thirds have acknowledged the Paris Agreement and/or the need … Read More
Media release: Japanese Banks under international fire over Vietnamese coal finance
Tuesday 13 March 2018 An international coalition of civil society organisations has written to SMBC, Mizuho and MUFG, warning of the risks associated with financing the 1,200MW Nghi Son 2 coal-fired power plant in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. The project is sponsored by Marubeni and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). SMBC, … Read More
Media release: Standard Chartered breaches own climate change commitment, funds coal plant in Vietnam
Friday 9 February 2018 The London-based bank Standard Chartered is reportedly in line to co-finance the planned 1,200MW Nghi Son 2 coal-fired power plant in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. It is understood that the sponsors of the plant are seeking to finalise key financial agreements by the end of March … Read More
Media release: Response to Origin greenhouse gas reduction target
14 December 2017 Response to Origin Eraring coal-fired power plant closure announcement – Market Forces “While the headlines seem laudable, Origin is doing no more than closing Eraring on its 50-year use-by date.” “In fact given that Eraring makes up approximately 70% of Origin’s overall emissions, the company is committing to … Read More