Greg Williams’ Post

❌ Ant and Dec's partner Santander UK is bankrolling the climate and nature crises. Last year the bank doubled down on the money it pumped into fossil fuels 🔥 this has to stop. Learn more and take action: https://lnkd.in/edR6fnr2 #ImACeleb #GetUsOutOfHere #DropSantander ITV

The worst banks in the UK. The latest Banking on Climate Chaos report is out. And there are some shocking results. 1/ Barclays increased its investments in fossil fuels last year. And that’s after announcing their policy to stop investing in new fossil fuel projects. Is this not the epitome of greenwashing? 2/ Santander increased funding for fossil fuels by 77%. In fact, Santander put more into oil & gas in 2023 than in any other year since the Paris Agreement (2016). 3/ HSBC has been steadily decreasing its investment in fossil fuels. From a peak of $32bn to a low of $12bn last year. This is good progress. But they need to get this to $0 at a far quicker pace. Time to ditch the dirty banks.

Major UK high street banks face scrutiny for financing fossil fuel expansion in the North Sea, despite pledging to align with net zero climate goals. HSBC, NatWest, and Lloyds have provided millions in finance to Ithaca Energy, drawing criticism from environmental organizations. Despite commitments to stop directly financing new oil and gas projects, these banks' actions contradict their net zero pledges. Environmental activists urge banks to cease funding Ithaca's Rosebank project, highlighting the project's significant CO2 emissions and the inconsistency with climate goals. It's time for banks to prioritise sustainability and honour their climate commitments. #ClimateAction #NetZero #Sustainability #thesocialtalks

Banking on Climate Chaos is out! In 2023, the 60 biggest banks globally financed fossil fuel companies with 705 billion USD, bringing the total, since the Paris agreement, to 6.9 trillion USD. Approximately half of this went to fossil fuel expansion companies. The world desperately needs banks to shift their financial flows from fossil fuels to renewables. But this is clearly not happening. Danske Bank is highlighted as one of the few banks to look to for inspiration: "Banks appear to have reached a plateau with their policies, which, taken as a whole, remain too weak to tackle oil and gas expansion. Only La Banque Postale and Danske Bank have the best policies." It is time for the other 58 banks to follow in their shoes and for politicians to step up with regulations to ensure that no bank is left behind in the green transition. https://lnkd.in/dpkWYw-h

💸🌎 Do you know what your Bank invests in?   Not many people do, which is why Bank.Green have an easy-to-use ranking tool to help you find out.   Who you bank with can have a huge impact on your contribution to the climate crisis.   ✊ At The Co-operative Bank, we're proud to be the first high street bank to join Bank.Green's Fossil Free Banking Alliance. We haven't funded fossil fuels for over 25 years.   Find out more about what your bank invests in here: https://bank.green/   #EthicalThenNowAndAlways | #FossilFuels | #ClimateCrisis

Major Australian bank Westpac is facing shareholder pressure to reveal whether all its fossil fuel clients will be required to have transition plans in place next year, and how it will assess such plans as being credible. #climate

NEW REPORT | Australia’s big four banks are still finding ways to funnel billions into fossil fuel expansion – despite what they want customers and shareholders to think. Here’s what you need to know: 🔥 The big four #banks have now poured over $61 billion into #fossilfuels in the eight years since the Paris Agreement. 💰 In just the last year alone, the big four banks loaned $2.5 billion to companies with fossil fuel expansion plans. 👿 Overall ANZ is Australia’s worst major bank on climate – blowing past $20 billion to the fossil fuel industry since the Paris Agreement was signed. 🙃 In 2023, of the big four banks NAB loaned the most to fossil fuels at $1.4 billion – over $800 million of this went to companies with expansion plans. 🌡 Westpac continues to fund some of the worst climate-wrecking companies – including Santos, JERA, and GE Vernova. 😕 Commonwealth Bank’s fossil fuel lending stagnated in 2023, but was still comfortably the least of the big four. However, CommBank loaned to APA Group in 2023, the pipeline company threatening to open the Northern Territory up to #fracking. ✅ The good news is that pressure from customers and shareholders is making a difference – direct finance is drying up for expansionary fossil fuel projects, and lending to #coal has been trending down for the last two years. 😡 But the banks are turning to corporate lending and bonds to keep funding clients with fossil fuel expansion plans, using loopholes to avoid keeping their climate commitments. Whether the banks are lending directly to projects or using backdoor methods to fund the companies expanding fossil fuels, the end result is the same. Either way, that money is funding #climate breakdown. It’s time for the big four banks to finally clean up their act. Friends of the Earth Australia | Move Beyond Coal | BankTrack | The Australia Institute | Greenpeace Australia Pacific | Climate Council Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action | Australian Youth Climate Coalition | Lock the Gate | Jubilee Australia Research Centre | Environment Centre NT | Conservation Council of WA | Queensland Conservation Council | GetUp |Parents for Climate | Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) | Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) | Australian Conservation Foundation | 350.org Australia

This is a huge (and welcome) move by the Commonwealth Bank. 💡 It reflects the fact that the net zero transition is no longer just a regulatory shift: it makes good commercial sense too. 🌱 We’ve been working with HSBC on the Net Zero sprint because they’re also concerned about financed emissions. Banks, other companies and forward-thinking business leaders have realised that failure to transition will impact the cost of doing business. 😀 And for those that get it right and get in front of the change, it can improve the bottom line! Find out more about the Net Zero sprint in comments 🌏 #netzero #cba #business #usyd https://lnkd.in/g8mcSkJM

Global #banks are assessing #carbon emissions and transition risk more vigorously in their underwriting of commercial real estate (#CRE) lending. The European Union recently passed its Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (#EPBD), part of a growing set of net-zero regulations, driving too-big-to-fail banks to take action. The issue at hand is the carbon emissions from buildings and the anticipated costs of upgrades required to comply with new green regulations. Global banks known to have taken or be considering measures to handle climate risks in their loan books include BNP Paribas, Banco Santander, Barclays, ING Groep, and NatWest. Read more:  https://lnkd.in/eXiyuyRx #carbonemission #realestate #netzero #globalbanks #climaterisk

Banking on Green: How Lloyd's and RSP Banks are Leading the Sustainability Charge Today climate action is crucial and major financial institutions are stepping up. Find out how banks such as Lloyd's Banking Group are making significant strides in green finance: • Green Mortgages: Incentivising energy-efficient homes • Eco-Friendly Loans: Supporting sustainable business practices • Green Investments: Funding renewable energy and conservation projects This shift isn't just good for the planet it's smart business and as consumers and investors increasingly prioritise sustainability, banks are adapting to meet these new demands. Want to dive deeper into this topic? Don't miss this episode of the Conversations on Climate podcast featuring Tara Schmidt. We filmed this episode back in 2022 and the information she shares is still relevant and fascinating today. She offers fascinating insights into the evolving landscape of green finance. Watch here: https://bit.ly/3AHuQZe Tara is now the Co-Head for Scotland, Corporate & Institutional Banking at the Bank of Scotland. #GreenFinance #SustainableBanking #ClimateAction #ESG