17 October 2019 Australia’s biggest dedicated coal miner, Whitehaven Coal, went to great lengths to talk up the prospects of demand growth for its product at the company’s annual general meeting in Sydney today. What the Whitehaven board failed to mention, however, was the fact that those demand projections are … Read More
Getting out of coal can’t save CommBank scrutiny at its AGM
16 October 2019 In August, Commonwealth Bank took a major step forward when it committed to get out of thermal coal by 2030, a commitment that no other major bank has so far made. Today, shareholders showed their appreciation for this commitment, but quickly moved to hold the bank to … Read More
Media Release: Three major banks face shareholder resolutions on climate action
Westpac, NAB and ANZ called upon to reduce exposure to fossil fuels in line with the Paris Agreement’s climate change goals. Thursday 10 October 2019 Environmental finance organisation Market Forces is today lodging shareholder resolutions with Westpac, NAB and ANZ today. The resolutions call for a reduction in lending and … Read More
Media release: Investors heap pressure on AGL
Thursday 19 September 2019 At today’s AGM in Sydney, over 30% of shareholders, worth more than AU$3.8bn, voted against management and in support of a resolution calling on the company to reduce emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Response from Will van de Pol, Market … Read More
AGL shareholders demand coal plant closure
19 September 2019 AGL shareholders today sent a strong message to Australia’s biggest climate polluter, with more than 30% voting in favour of a resolution demanding the company reduce emissions in line with the Paris climate goals. Only twice before has a climate change-related shareholder proposal received more than 20% … Read More
Media release: Suncorp dumps thermal coal
26 July 2019 In response to Market Forces lodging a shareholder resolution, Suncorp has revealed it is exiting the thermal coal sector, meaning there are now no Australian insurers willing to underwrite new thermal coal mines and power stations. A Suncorp spokesman told InsuranceNews, “Suncorp does not directly invest in, … Read More
Macquarie’s slow progress leaves room for gas expansion
25 July 2019 Macquarie Group’s annual general meeting today saw the company face community and shareholder backlash over its advisory role on the huge Rio Grande liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the United States. While Macquarie has made some good progress on climate risk disclosure this year, the company’s … Read More
Media release: Suncorp shareholders demand phase out of fossil fuel exposure
Thursday, 25 July 2019 Market Forces has lodged a shareholder resolution on behalf of over 100 Suncorp shareholders, calling on the insurer to set targets to reduce its investment and underwriting exposure to coal, oil and gas in line with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 … Read More
Rio Tinto investors baulk at climate risk management
9 May 2019 The vast majority of Rio Tinto’s investors – which includes just about every super fund in Australia – today failed to ensure the company acts to manage down its exposure to climate change risk. A Market Forces-coordinated shareholder resolution was put to Rio Tinto’s annual general meeting … Read More
Caltex – out of line & out of time
Anyone watching the presentation on sustainability at Caltex annual general meeting (AGM) today would think the company, the petroleum brand of Chevron, is earnest about tackling emissions. Chairman Steven Gregg insisted that Caltex is acting in line with the Paris Agreement and taking our global climate emergency seriously. However, a … Read More