Pressure on Asian companies reaches boiling point for climate action 

OPINION | Koh Matsuki CEO, Proxy Watcher Some of Japan’s biggest energy and resources companies are pushing full steam ahead to expand fossil fuel projects across Asia. But banks across Asia and corporate Japan – including Mitsubishi, Mizuho Bank and J-Power – are feeling the heat from major investors calling … Read More

Shareholders urge Japanese companies to take urgent climate action

TOKYO, Japan, 29 June 2022 Market Forces, Kiko Network, 350 org. Japan, FoE Japan, Rainforest Action Network Japanese corporations have faced a record number of shareholders backing proposals calling for greater action and transparency on meeting net-zero carbon emissions targets. Today, and over the past week, shareholders representing $22 billion … Read More

Investors give QBE a free pass despite hypocrisy on climate

Market Forces QBE Action Sydney 2018

6 May 2022 A shareholder resolution calling on QBE to align its oil and gas underwriting and investment with the goals of the Paris Agreement achieved 19.8% support at QBE Insurance’s AGM yesterday. As has been the case for several years now, the AGM was dominated by questions regarding QBE’s … Read More

Super funds undermining climate commitments

29 November 2021 Our super funds have had a number of critical opportunities to force companies they invest in to step up on climate action over the past couple of months. Yet our new analysis finds they’ve been squandering these opportunities by voting against climate action. With more crucial climate … Read More

Suncorp and IAG not closing fossil fuel policy gaps

22 October 2021 Amidst ever-worsening extreme weather and the hits to their bottom lines it is causing, two of Australia’s three big insurers faced shareholders at their annual general meetings (AGM) recently (IAG was today, Suncorp on September 23rd). Over the last two years both have taken significant steps away … Read More

Suncorp and IAG dumping fossil fuels but policy gaps remain

Bush fire in Queensland

23 October 2020 Amidst ever-worsening extreme weather and the hits to their bottom lines it is causing, two of Australia’s three big insurers faced shareholders at their annual general meetings this week. Over the last 18 months both have taken significant steps away from supporting coal, oil and gas in … Read More

Origin Energy shuts down Traditional Owner and climate change concerns

20 October 2020 Origin Energy took advantage of the COVID-19 situation to stifle shareholders’ rights to challenge the company at its annual general meeting today. After taking questions from shareholders for less than 40 minutes, Origin Chair Gordon Cairns refused to accept any more questions on Traditional Owner concerns around … Read More