Greenpeace reveals ANZ Australia’s dirtiest bank

Greenpeace reveals ANZ is Australia’s dirtiest bank

October 19, 2010. Melbourne, Australia. Greenpeace has launched a new campaign to illuminate the role of ANZ as the biggest financier of polluting coal power in Australia.

A report released by Greenpeace reveals that while all four of Australia’s big banks are the major financers of coal, ANZ is officially the dirtiest bank in Australia.

“ANZ has extensive operations in the Pacific and have obligations to be responsible corporate citizens. Scientific evidence shows that coal is the key driver of global climate change, which is impacting the Pacific, ” said Greenpeace spokesman Lagi Toribau.

“Over the past five years, ANZ has poured nearly $1.6 billion dollars into coal infrastructure and is the biggest financier of coal power stations and coalmines. This is despite ANZ topping the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for four years running and adopting a policy to be carbon neutral.

“ANZ have made much of its environmental awards,” said Mr Toribau “But these are meaningless if the bank continues to pour billions into financing climate change and sealing the fate for us Pacific Islanders.”

“Pacific Islanders only contribute one percent of global emissions but are at the frontline of climate impacts. We know these banks spend millions of dollars each year to improve their reputation, keep existing customers and attract new ones – when we ask for change, they’ll be listening. So we call on these banks to change what they invest in as climate change knows no borders.”
Mr Toribau said concerned consumers have every right to let ANZ know that they do not want their money financing climate change, which threatens the existence of the Pacific.

Meanwhile Greenpeace activists stepped it up in Melbourne and projected a new ANZ logo and tag line “Polluting your World” onto a cooling tower at Yallourn - one of Australia’s dirtiest coal power stations and one of ten across the country financed by ANZ over the last five years.

ENDS

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