Ethical Choice Investments

How does your superfund compare on climate? 🌱🌱

The Climate Wreckers Index (by Market Forces) identifies 190 global companies most responsible for heavy climate damage through coal, oil, and gas expansion. Australia’s 30 largest super funds have collectively more than doubled their investments in these companies over two years, totalling over $39 billion.

On average, nearly 9% of members’ share investments in these funds are in Climate Wreckers Index companies. If this trend is consistent across the entire superannuation industry, it means over $150 billion of Australians’ retirement savings are invested in these future-damaging companies.

Urge your super fund to divest from these climate-wrecking companies. Find more details about how to take action on the Market Forces website:
https://www.marketforces.org.au/campaigns/super/climatewreckersindex/ 💪🌿

It's been great to work with Ensombl, and contribute to their new Impact Investing whitepaper.

“If you’ve got the choice between a standard investment that has a financial return, or an impact focused investment with a similar return, but which also improves the whole planet and our society, it’s really a bit of a no-brainer.” - Chris Lang

Impact Investing: Perspective Reset - Ensombl This insights paper is a companion piece to the Ensombl podcast series on Impact Investing, brought to you with the support of T. Rowe Price.

The rare and unique Maugean Skate are being impacted by salmon farming in Tasmania's Macquarie Harbour, it's last remaining habitat. Shareholders are calling for Coles and Woolworths to play a pivotal role in preserving the Skate’s habitat.

SIX Sustainable Investment Exchange | Save the Skate Unleash your shareholder power with SIX to Save the Skate. Join us in using shareholder power to address the catastrophic threat posed by industrial salmon farming and help save the skate from extinction.

This petition seeks better disclosure from US companies which sell to***co products. The proposed change would allow investors to understand and avoid US companies which deal in to***co.

Sign the Petition Encourage the SEC to develop rules that require retailers to disclose to***co revenue

Australia is making progress towards a fast paced transition to clean manufacturing and sustainable energy, with potential to solve multiple problems at once; "...the turning point, when it comes, will be swift."

The road is long and time is short, but Australia’s pace towards net zero is quickening For all of the doom-saying, Australia is putting the building blocks in place to get to net zero faster.

Tasmania - The Big Tree state? A strategy released by The Tree Projects can benefit rural communities and help protect forest giants. "Tasmania is second only to California as being the global hotspot of giant trees."

“Game-changing”: Tasmania’s New ‘Big Tree State’ Forest Tourism Plan… The Wilderness Society Tasmania and The Tree Projects have launched the Big Tree State report that showcases eight big tree Tourism visitor proposals.

Should we be able to enact policy we know harms our children’s future? This proposed amendment will require decision makers to consider future generations when making climate decisions. Read and consider signing to support it.

DUTYOFCARE We should be thinking about young people when we make decisions. It’s our duty as politicians and policy makers to make sure the climate young people and future generations inherit is one they can live and thrive in. I want to be part of a parliament, and more importantly a country, that takes thi...

Weekly good news: Australia joins the Climate Club, an international group of nations focusing on moving to a sustainable carbon economy.

Australia joins global Climate Club: time to match commitments with action | Climate Council THE CLIMATE COUNCIL welcomes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement that Australia will join the Climate Club, an international initiative focused on industrial decarbonisation and pursuing net zero emissions. Climate Council Director of Research, Dr Simon Bradshaw, said: “Joining the Cl...

Lendlease's development near Sydney affects one of Australia’s last healthy koala populations. Australian Ethical has divested $11m after concerns were not addressed. You can support this action by emailing the NSW Environment Minister.

The full story: https://buff.ly/3Lww50Q
Email the minister: https://buff.ly/4010VD5

Fantastic news as ASIC begins fighting greenwashing.

Mercer claimed its Sustainable Plus option was suitable for members who "are deeply committed to sustainability", and yet it invested in 49 companies in fossil fuel, alcohol, or gambling.
https://buff.ly/3EKKO4e

Want to reduce your climate impact? This is one of the most effective and overlooked steps. Ask us for help improving your super! 🌾

Better than a Tesla: Changing super one of the best ways to go green The potential of the $3.3 trillion that Australians have in their super to help mitigate climate change trumps most of the other actions that individuals can take.

How could climate change effect your home?
Extreme weather events and granular risk assessments means many houses at risk of flooding or bushfire may be uninsurable. What will this do to property values?

Climate change is already putting the heat on insurance companies – Auckland's floods could be a turning point Record-breaking floods in Auckland could see insurance costs in parts of the city rise significantly – some areas may even become uninsurable.

How are the major car producers doing in the race to zero emissions?
Shame to see Toyota, Nissan and Mitsubishi's lack of vision will see them left behind.

Full article: https://buff.ly/3hmYzx9

More evidence of the significant links between company profits and sustainability practices. This article shows benefits are broad: revenue, profitability, funding, and hiring good staff are all improved.
Even more evidence good companies do well. Full article:

Link between ESG and profitability exists: New research Businesses which express commitment to ESG have seen profits jump 9.1% over the past three years, says accountancy firm Moore Global.

Here are some key proposals from last night's budget:

• more realistic awareness of climate concerns,
• reduced downsizer eligibility age for contributions (from 60 to 55),
• increase in the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card income thresholds,
• one-off $4,000 credit to the Work Bonus income bank,
• changes to Child Care Subsidy and Parental Leave Pay,
• more favourable Centrelink assessment of home sale proceeds, and
• continued support for homebuyers.

Note: These changes are only proposals until they pass through parliament.
Photo credit: Yu Tung Brian Chan

A sign of positive progress as solar briefly became the number one source of power nationally last Friday. "This is the first time in business-as-usual that we've ever seen coal be dethroned as [the] number-one fuel source in the market".

For half an hour on Friday, Australia was running on more solar power than coal Solar energy eclipsed coal as the lead source of power across the national energy market at lunchtime on Friday, something experts say will become more common.

Good news: a Sydney start-up produces sharkskin stickers to reduce drag, which may save the aviation industry 225 million tonnes of emissions a year, gains backing from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. https://buff.ly/3mPAqOZ

A bit of nice news: electrification of transport is already reducing global oil use by 1.5million barrels a day.

Electric Vehicles are measurably reducing global oil demand; by 1.5 million barrels a day Source: Axios Approximately 1.5 million barrels of oil were displaced each day in 2021 due to Electric Vehicle usage. This quantity is slated to grow as EV uptake and usage continue to rise. These new, tangible effects of EV uptake are helping to challenge the opinion that such vehicles are a niche....

Project Drawdown aims to bring us to the point where greenhouse gas levels stop climbing and begin steadily declining. It seeks to do this as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible by rigorously researching and analysing solutions.
https://drawdown.org/

Check out the 'No Mow May' idea - less gardening to help local bees and insects.
https://buff.ly/3kmdnu0

The U.N. will start scrutinising net-zero pledges, pressuring companies with pledges but no clear action plans, to address greenwashing.

U.N. launches group to hold companies to account for net-zero pledges The United Nations on Thursday announced the members of an expert group that will scrutinize corporate pledges to achieve net-zero emissions, an effort to prevent greenwashing as private sector climate plans proliferate.

An indication of our rapidly changing energy sources: once arguing we need to build more coal-fired power stations (2017), Ian Macfarlane (lobbyist, former Coalition resources minister) concedes there could be none left within 10 years.
https://buff.ly/3vDHHHw

Huge news: Mike Cannon-Brookes launches bid for Australia's largest coal power provider, AGL, to accelerate its exit from coal by 15 years. This has the potential to rapidly decarbonise Australia's power grid.
The initial bid was refused, common in takeovers. Mike Cannon-Brookes has stated negotiations will continue.

Billionaire’s bid to kill AGL coal Tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes has launched an $8bn takeover bid for Australian energy giant AGL, as he moves to force the closure of its remaining coal-fired power stations.

Uplifting news: more then 100 ultra-wealthy (US) individuals signed an open letter asking for higher taxes on the wealthy. They seek fair taxation to reduce inequality, a goal they see as beneficial for all - including themselves.
https://buff.ly/3gykRIx

'Tax us now': Why these millionaires and billionaires want to pay more tax, not less 'Tax us now': Why some of the world's millionaires want to pay their 'fair share'By Emily Bennett7:15pm Jan 19, 2022 Tweet Facebook Mail A growing chorus of millionaires and billionaires is calling on governments worldwide to tax the rich.More than 100 ultra-wealthy people have signed an open letter...

Unsure how clean your energy is? Use this amazing tool to compare the environmental credentials of your electricity supplier - just select your state. 🌿🌿 Are you with the best?
https://greenelectricityguide.org.au

Good climate news; global investment in clean energy hits a record $1 trillion last year as the world continues to transition towards a low carbon economy.
https://buff.ly/3Hj1LBW

Good news: South Australia sourced 100% of electricity needs from renewables for 6.5 days in a row last year - a new record in Australia.

https://buff.ly/3Fz6spz

Good news, people investing in line with their values are getting better results then other funds - financially and ethically.
Come chat to us to get your super and investments supporting the society and environment you live in.

'Well-run ethical super funds are getting pretty good returns' and now beating traditional funds A new study shows Australian superannuation funds that invest responsibly are becoming increasingly profitable than traditional funds. But some analyst says they need to be more transparent.

Promising news as China and US unveil joint statement at COP26 confirming the two major powers will cooperate to accelerate climate action, phasing down coal and methane emissions.

COP26 Draft Deal: US and China Unveil Joint Bid To Save Climate Talks - The Wire Science To land the agreement, Washington sidelined some disputes with Beijing, including China's treatment of ethnic Uighurs.

Government predicts renewables to supply 69% of power to the grid by 2030. Not what many would expect based on government energy policies.
How is this positive change happening? Investment decisions and public pressure continue to drive positive change.
https://buff.ly/3bdT3q9