We conduct public interest financial analysis on the most profound economic transformation since the industrial revolution: the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
About
Climate Energy Finance (CEF) is a think tank established in 2022 that works probono in the public interest to accelerate decarbonisation. We conduct research and analyses on global financial issues related to the global energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, as well as the implications for the Australian economy, with a key focus on the threats and opportunities for Australian investments and exports. Read more
Our Work
AGL | Banking sector & Emissions | China | Critical minerals | Decarbonisation | Energy Crisis | Hydrogen | India | Windfall tax |
UPDATE: AGL victory | NAB: progress, but can do better | BlueScope Aus shuns green steel
Our latest update including the historic victory for decarbonisation at the AGL AGM, our critical deep dive into BlueScope’s plan to sink $1bn into dirty carbon intensive blast furnace tech, and most recent analyses of big banks’ climate efforts – this time focussing on NAB – and of the critical mineral industry, looking at Australian companies expanding offshore. Read more
Impact investing powers revolution at AGL
A victory for impact investing this week after sweeping reforms at carbon dinosaur AGL’s AGM. We track the striking similarities between Sentient Impact Group / Climate Energy Finance’s report “One AGL: from laggard to leader” and AGL’s newly mandated transition plan, which sees it exit coal early and invest ~$20bn in renewables. Read more
“Bridge to nowhere:” Why BlueScope Steel is a decarbonisation laggard in Australia, as it leads in the US
With the major steelmaker’s AGM on Tuesday 22 November, Tim Buckley examines why BlueScope is planning to sink $1bn into outdated blast furnace tech at Port Kembla that would entrench huge carbon emissions at the heart of Australian steelmaking for decades to come, just as BlueScope US makes strides in decarbonisation. Read more
National Australia Bank (NAB) FY22 Full Year Results –Climate Finance Assessment
In this second in CEF’s series of climate finance analyses of Australia’s big banks, CEF’s Nishtha Aggarwal scrutinises NAB’s efforts against four criteria key to assessing decarbonisation progress: its climate financing pledge, customer engagement, emissions intensity by sector, and its energy loan book. The news is mixed, with some progress, coupled with a need for a dramatic increase in ambition, as the analysis shows. Read more
Media
Victoria’s election is a referendum on fossil fuels vs deflationary renewables
Renew Economy
In this op ed one day ahead of the Victorian election, Tim Buckley notes that the Labor government has ambitious new policies that will put Victoria in a world-leading position of 95% RE and 80% emissions reduction by 2035, driving lower electricity prices, gas substitution and decarbonisation. The LNP targets 50% emissions reduction by 2030, but with no policies to deliver on this – and a commitment to turbocharging gas, which will drive the climate crisis and do nothing to address the price crisis. Read more
Japanese ambassador takes ‘highly unusual’ campaign against Queensland coal royalty hike to mining forum
The Guardian
Tim Buckley says that QLD’s new tiered coal royalty regime structured to capture windfall profits will net $6.4bn more this FY than under the state’s previous royalty regime, while coalminers would still get 80% of QLD’s coal export bonanza – up to $62bn in revenue and record profits of more than $30bn before interest and corporate tax – making the industry campaign against the regime hot air. Read more
Does Australia have the stomach to become a critical minerals superpower?
PV Magazine
Tim Buckley comments that public opposition has the potential to undercut the burgeoning critical minerals industry unless governments enforce “sensible regulations” early, including recycling, processing facility efficiency and carbon standards and pollution. Read more
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