22 September 2021 Overnight, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced to the United Nations General Assembly that China “will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad”. The statement follows similar announcements made earlier this year by Japan and South Korea. Since 2013, 65% of global public finance for coal power stations … Read More
Media Release: CommBank to face shareholder resolution over failed climate commitments
Wednesday 11 August 2021 As the IPCC issues a fresh warning of the devastating consequences of the climate crisis and the narrowing window to avoid catastrophe, Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has today released an updated policy which weakens and undermines its own existing climate commitments. As a result, a resolution is … Read More
Investors rebuke NAB over fossil fuel funding at AGM, despite government threats
18 December 2020 As members of the Australian government seek to launch a probe into the legality of banks divesting from fossil fuels, NAB’s annual shareholder meeting saw its investors push for the bank to further limit funding in line with the Paris Agreement. In addition to a shareholder resolution … Read More
ANZ held to account for climate inaction at AGM
16 December 2020 Following the release of a lacklustre update to its climate policy in October, today’s ANZ annual general meeting (AGM) saw the bank’s board held to account for the gap between rhetoric and action on climate change. However, perhaps the bank wasn’t as prepared to bear the weight … Read More
Westpac 2020 AGM: funding climate failure is the ‘sweet spot’
11 December 2020 Westpac’s board knew they would be facing tough questions from shareholders at today’s annual general meeting (AGM) given the banks’ continued funding for Australia’s most climate-destructive companies, including Whitehaven Coal and Santos. The bank’s updated climate policy, released in May, was a step forward as it pledged … Read More
South32’s new climate plan won’t include scope 3 targets
29 October 2020 Diversified mining company South32 told shareholders today it would have “something to say” about its huge scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions (those generated from the use of its products) when the company updates its climate policy next year. However, the company isn’t expected to include any clear … Read More
Media Release: ANZ, NAB face shareholder resolutions on climate action
ANZ and NAB called upon to reduce exposure to fossil fuels in line with the Paris Agreement’s climate change goals. Thursday 1 October 2020 Environmental finance organisation Market Forces is today lodging shareholder resolutions with ANZ and NAB. The resolutions call for a reduction in exposure to the fossil fuel … Read More
Bendigo Bank finally supports the Paris Agreement
17 August 2020 Bendigo and Adelaide Bank enjoys a lot of kudos for being one of Australia’s medium-sized banks that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels. Thousands of Australians have moved to Bendigo Bank as a result of its position on our banks comparison table. Yet in the (nearly) five years … Read More
Media release: Fossil fuel lending by Australian banks tops AU$35bn
New Market Forces analysis – Funding Climate Failure Wednesday 8 July, 2020: Despite repeated pledges and policies to the contrary, Australia’s big four banks have once again increased funding to the expansion of the fossil fuel industry over the past year. The figures mean fossil fuel lending has topped $35.5 … Read More
Australia’s pariah projects: the fossil fuel proposals threatening to bust our climate goals
Australia’s ‘big four’ banks – ANZ, CommBank, NAB and Westpac – have all publicly championed the Paris Agreement. They have also committed to the global goal of net zero emissions by 2050, even though the current state of climate science means we should be aiming for net-zero emissions far sooner. … Read More