16 April 2021 Scientists have been clear that meeting the Paris Agreement’s climate goals means no expansion of the polluting gas industry.[1] Yet one of Australia’s largest and most polluting gas export projects, Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG), is seeking approval to drill up to 7,700 new gas wells across central … Read More
Big banks snub local farmers concerned about Whitehaven Coal
12 April 2021 Whitehaven Coal is one of the biggest coal mining corporations on the Australian share market and some of the world’s biggest banks, including Westpac, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank, played a key role in lending $1 billion to the company in 2020. ANZ and Commonwealth Bank have … 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
Westpac increases exposure to fossil fuel power generation
2 November 2020 Westpac’s full year results released today reveal the bank has reduced its exposure to fossil fuel mining and extraction while increasing it to coal and gas-burning power generation over the past year. Westpac’s 2020 Sustainability Performance Report also revealed for the first time the extent of the … Read More
Dear companies, your fossil fuel support is a reputational ticking time bomb
24 August 2020 When the response finally came through from engineering consultancy GHD’s Chairman on 5 July 2019, it was fairly typical, “Please contact Adani directly on any matters that may relate to their business activities.” The company that had been providing engineering and other consulting services to Adani since … 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
Westpac sets thermal coal exit date, re-commits to Paris alignment
4 May, 2020 Westpac’s Climate Change Action Plan Update, released today, is another nail in the coffin for thermal coal, while the seriousness of the bank’s broader commitment to lend in line with the Paris Agreement climate goals will be revealed in time via its oil and gas lending. Westpac … Read More
The investors helping Woodside weather one crisis but not the other
28 April 2020 Woodside Energy is Australia’s largest gas producer, with a focus on liquefying and exporting gas, a fossil fuel the use of which cannot be expanded if we’re to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Woodside is headquartered in Western Australia, where most of its projects are located, including … Read More
Millions call on Westpac to end funding of fossil fuel expansions
15 April 2020 Market Forces has coordinated a letter signed by 52 organisations representing 4.2 million people from all over the world, calling on new Westpac CEO Peter King to end Westpac’s practice of loaning money to expansionary coal, oil and gas projects and companies. See the full letter here. … Read More
Westpac heavily favouring fossil fuels over renewables
11 April 2020 As you read this, Westpac is rewriting its climate change policy. And it clearly needs an upgrade. Since the Paris Agreement was reached, Westpac has loaned $5.4 billion to fossil fuels and only $2 billion to renewable energy technology. That means for every dollar Westpac loaned to … Read More