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
More than 20% of Whitehaven shareholders reject climate-wrecking new coal plans
26 October 2022 Whitehaven Coal faced backlash from big investors and community members both inside and outside its annual general meeting, held in Sydney today. Despite record coal prices and company profits, more than a fifth of Whitehaven’s shareholders demanded the company stop expanding and start managing down coal mining … Read More
“How Shareholders Can Promote Corporate Decarbonisation” – address to the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan
On 27 June 2022, Market Forces Executive Director Julien Vincent made an address to the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan with a speech titled “How Shareholders Can Promote Corporate Decarbonisation”. A recording of the press conference and Julien’s introductory speech can be found below: From the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of … 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
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
Whitehaven Coal AGM 2021: Board keeps its head in the sand over net zero by 2050
27 October 2021 Whitehaven Coal faced sustained pressure from shareholders at its AGM today over the future of its coal business in a scenario where the world reaches net zero emissions by 2050. Shareholders grilled Whitehaven’s board over the company’s planned coal projects and their incompatibility with the global effort … 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
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