A submission made to the inquiry by the NAIF itself shows that director Sally Pitkin ceased her association with the body on July 31, 2017.

No mention of Ms Pitkin’s departure has been made on the NAIF’s website nor has any public announcement been made about her position or the effect this resignation will have on the projects the board is considering.

“The NAIF is run by a compromised board of hand-picked mining executives, some of whom were personally familiar with, and recommended by, the former resources minister Matt Canavan,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Nikola Casule said.

“They have consistently refused any public accountability or oversight. This latest resignation, done quietly behind the scenes only a week before a senate inquiry into the Facility, shows that the NAIF is in disarray and not fit for purpose.

“If the NAIF is truly to operate in the interests of Northern Australia rather than a $5 billion ‘slush fund’ of public money, as it was described by former treasurer, Wayne Swan, it must be disbanded so we can start again.”

The Australian Senate voted to establish an inquiry into the NAIF and any potential conflicts of interest on its board after revelations that one of the board’s directors, Karla Way-McPhail, also runs mining labour and equipment hire companies and had made “hyper-partisan comments” online in support of the coal industry.

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The activists are there to deliver this message to the Norwegian government from around the world: Put People over Arctic Oil.

They are also displaying a constructed giant globe in front of the rig with written statements to the government.

Thirty-five activists from 25 countries are escalating a peaceful protest after tailing the rig for one month in the Barents Sea.

The Norwegian government has opened up a new oil frontier in the Arctic. The state-owned oil company has just started to drill for oil at the Korpfjell well, a controversial site 415km from land.

It is close to the ice edge and an important feeding area for seabirds. This is the first opening of new areas for oil drilling in 20 years and it is the northernmost area licensed by Norway.

The “environmentally friendly” Norwegian government granted new oil licenses, as part of the 23rd license round, in the Arctic on June 10 last year.

Just ten days after, they ratified the Paris Agreement.

Greenpeace US activist Britt Baker, at the location, said:

“As an American and global citizen, Trump's decision to retreat from the Paris climate agreement and boost fossil fuels at the expense of people around the world was devastating. Likewise, we see the Norwegian government opening new oil areas in the Arctic at full throttle, in spite of knowing the dangers it will have for future generations. The major difference between the situation in the U.S and Norway is that Trump left the Paris agreement with tunnel-vision motives to extend handouts to the flailing fossil fuel industry.

"Norway may as well have left the Paris agreement given the Norwegian's government desire to accelerate fossil fuel production. This government is showing the same disrespect to global climate commitments as Trump”

Greenpeace and its co-plaintiff Nature and Youth are taking the government to court in November, arguing that the new oil licenses are in breach of the Norwegian Constitution’s right to a healthy environment (Article 112). Despite the ongoing legal case, Statoil is drilling several new oil wells in the Arctic this summer.

Greenpeace Norway Arctic campaigner, Erlend Tellnes, from on board the Arctic Sunrise, said:

“Norway is not as green as their image. With one hand, the government have signed the Paris Agreement and profiled themselvesas an environmental champion, whilst handing out hundreds of new oil blocks in the Arctic with the other. They ignore and disrespect environmental, scientific recommendations and have offered the oil industry licenses in some of the most pristine areas of the Arctic. Now they have to answer for their actions in court."

Within a month more than 150,000 people have joined the call to the Norwegian government to respect the Norwegian Constitution and The Paris Agreement, bringing the number to 355,000.

Notes to Editors

Photos from the protest: http://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJXVZK8M

Full collection from The People vs. Arctic Oil ship tour: http://bit.ly/2x9s0GC

Read more here about the climate lawsuit: http://www.greenpeace.org/norway/no/reports/Media-Briefing-Lawsuit-2017/

Read more about oil drilling in the Barents Sea: 

http://www.greenpeace.org/norway/no/reports/Media-Briefing-Oil-Drilling-in-the-Barents-Sea/

Media contacts

For interviews with activists and spokespersons on board:

Poul Bonke Justesen, communications lead, Greenpeace Nordic. Mobile: +45 2629 4938

Greenpeace International Press Desk:pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)

The supermarket giants today announced they would no longer offer the lightweight plastic shopping bags across their chains of stores network in Australia.

“This announcement by Woolworths and Coles show they are serious about their responsibilities as Australia’s largest supermarket chains,” Greenpeace campaigner Samantha Wockner said.

“This ban will stop billions of bags from being used each year in Australia, tens of millions of which can make their way into our waterways and eventually end inside marine life and our food.

“The environment ministers of Victoria and NSW need to recognise that they are being left behind on this issue and must step up and show the leadership that is embarrassingly being shown by supermarket chains and not them.”

Greenpeace Australia Pacific is calling on the state governments of NSW and Victoria to follow the lead set by Woolworths and Coles.

South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and ACT all have bans on single-use plastic bags. Queensland will introduce a ban in July 2018 while NSW and Victoria are yet to implement a policy on bags. Western Australia has stated it hopes to bring in a ban on bags in the next 18 months.

“The overwhelming majority of Australians support a ban on single use plastic bags - which are only used for minutes on average, but then take up to a thousand years to decompose,” Wockner said.

“There is no reason for the paralysis currently infecting some state and federal governments on this issue.

“It’s time for us to ban the bag at every level.”

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The letter also calls for members to rule out any involvement with Adani’s Carmichael mine in Queensland, with the NAIF currently considering a proposal to loan $1 billion of taxpayers’ money to the billionaire mining company for the construction of a rail line.

“Given the large amount of public money at stake and the high degree of community interest in this issue, it is particularly important that the public not be kept in the dark,” the letter reads.

“We ask you to be transparent and open in your decision-making.

“In reaching your decision, please give proper weight to the overwhelming popular conviction that public money should not be used to finance Adani’s high-risk Carmichael project.”

The letter comes one day before the fund is due to face a senate grilling over possible conflicts of interest on its board after revelations that one of the board’s directors also runs companies associated with mining labour and equipment hire and was personally known by the the former resources minister.

“The controversy surrounding the NAIF and its consideration of this project has united Australians from every background,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Nikola Casule said.

“This letter is another reminder that both experts in corporate governance and transparency as well as ordinary Australians are opposed to any taxpayers’ money being used to prop up a dying industry. New coal mines, like the Carmichael mine, aren’t viable without the support they get from the government in the form of subsidies and royalty holidays.

“With this letter more prominent voices join those of former treasurer Wayne Swan and former Liberal Party leader John Hewson in warning against any public money going into this mine.”

The letter has been signed by:

Jon AltmanProfessor of Anthropology, Deakin University

Frank BongiornoProfessor of History, Australian National University

Ian DunlopFormer Chair, Australian Coal Association and CEO AICD

Robyn EckersleyProfessor of Political Science, University of Melbourne

Alex GardnerProfessor of Natural Resources and Environmental Law, The University of

Western Australia

Sarah JosephProfessor of Law, Monash University

John KeaneProfessor of Politics, University of Sydney

Stephen Keim SCSenior Counsel

Greg McIntyre SCSenior Counsel

John QuigginProfessor of Economics, University of Queensland

Barry RafeDirector Trainer

Christopher WrightProfessor of Organisational Studies, University of Sydney

James WrightCEO, Future Business Council

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

This weekend UNESCO released a report which found world heritage coral reefs around the globe would continue to be killed off by bleaching events unless CO2 emissions are drastically reduced to limit global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

“What the UNESCO report makes clear is that the government’s Reef 2050 plan is just tinkering at the edges of environmental disaster—its measures  are simply not enough. If we are going to stand a chance of slowing climate change and preserving what’s left of the Great Barrier Reef, we have to stop funding the fossil fuel industry and transition to clean, renewable energy as fast as possible.

“The Turnbull government propping up coal, oil and gas through fossil fuel subsidies is at the heart of this problem. And its support for a $1bn loan of public money from the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) is a final slap in the face to Australians watching the slow death of a national icon.

“It’s time we ended polluter hand-outs across the board. We should start by ruling out any taxpayer funding for a new coal megamine in the Galilee Basin," Dr Casule said.

Currently the Australian Government funds climate change with over $11 billion worth of tax breaks alone to big polluters per year [1] and there is a proposal before the NAIF board for a $1bn loan to the Carmichael coal mega mine.

“Fossil fuel subsidies have been described by the Bloomberg Editorial Board as ‘the world’s dumbest policy’[2] for a very good reason,” Dr Casule said.

“They allow fossil fuel producers to undermine national climate commitments, while we pay them for the privilege. It’s perverse corporate welfare that only encourages more carbon pollution and holds back the clean energy revolution Australia should be leading.

“Pouring public money into fossil fuels also diverts tax dollars from critical public services such as education and health.

“The Great Barrier Reef is Australia’s greatest natural wonder. As the rest of the world looks on in horror at the tragedy unfolding on the Reef, Malcolm Turnbull is doing his best to pour billions of dollars into fossil fuels. This is Australia’s national shame.

“Real climate leadership from Malcolm Turnbull is no longer an option—it’s a requirement. Australia must stop pouring money into fossil fuels, ban new coal mines, and exert every effort to catch up with other countries making progress on climate action," said Dr Casule. 

For interviews contact:
Rachael Vincent, Media Campaigner rachael.vincent@greenpeace.org 0413 993 316

Notes
1. ‘How your taxes subsidise fossil fuels, Market Forces, http://www.marketforces.org.au/ffs/tax/

2. 'Fuel Subsidies Are the World's Dumbest Policy,' Bloomberg Editorial Board, 1 September 2016
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-09-01/fossil-fuel-subsidies-are-the-world-s-dumbest-policy-editorial

“The Government says one thing, but does another on the Reef,” said Ms Foster Vander Elst.

“Queensland and Australian government ministers say they are committed to preserving the Reef for future generations, but their actions make it quite clear they do not care enough to do what we need to save it.”

Both the UNESCO World Heritage Committee and the Government’s own Reef 2050 Advisory Committee have warned that the Government’s Reef 2050 Plan, which primarily addresses water quality and land clearing, is inadequate and will not work because it does not address the primary threat to the Reef—climate change.   

UNESCO’s scientific report on coral reefs released on 23 June warns the only way to save the Reef from certain destruction before the end of the century is to halt global warming at well below 1.5-2°C above pre-industrial levels.

“The Australian Government has the power to act on global warming. It is utterly irresponsible to suggest otherwise. And Australia must act if it is serious about protecting the Reef. This means we must keep 90 per cent of existing coal reserves in the ground [1],” Ms Foster Vander Elst said.  

“But instead, the Queensland and Australian Governments are pouring billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money into fossil fuel subsidies, talking up the construction of more coal-fired power stations and bending over backwards to facilitate the expansion of Australian coal mining in the Galilee basin, including a proposal for the NAIF to provide a $1 billion loan to the billionaire Adani mining corporation,” said Ms Foster Vander Elst.

“When the Government is spending fifty five times more on fossil fuel subsidies [2] than on its much-touted Reef 2050 plan, it’s quite clear what its priorities really are.

“What we should be doing is cutting fossil fuels subsidies, banning new coal mines and offering the world real climate leadership. If we do not act now, then when Australians mourn the destruction of the Great Barrier Reef in years to come, they will know who to blame: the Abbott-Turnbull Australian Governments who wilfully promoted fossil fuels over committed action on climate change,” Ms Foster Vander Elst said.

Notes
[1] See Greenpeace Report April 2016, ‘Exporting climate change, killing the reef’ at http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/Global/australia/reports/Exporting%20climate%20change,%20killing%20the%20reef.pdf

[2] The Reef 2050 Plan has a price-tag of $2bn over ten years—or $200m a year—but Market Forces has identified $11bn in tax-payer funded fossil fuel subsidies provided by the Government each year: ‘How your taxes subsidise fossil fuels, Market Forces, http://www.marketforces.org.au/ffs/tax/

Background briefing & timeline
Greenpeace’s newly updated 18-page report, ‘The double threat to the Great Barrier Reef: climate change and the Australian Government’ offers a  background briefing and timeline on UNESCO, the Australian Government and the Reef: http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/what-we-do/oceans/resources/reports/The-double-threat-to-the-Great-Barrier-Reef/

Photos and video
High resolution photographs and video for the media can be accessed in the Greenpeace media library here, including drone footage of bleached coral: http://media.greenpeace.org/shoot/27MZIFJJD68E1

For interviews contact
Rachael Vincent, Media Campaigner 0413 993 316 rachael.vincent@greenpeace.org

The bank, which is currently facing litigation by shareholders for failing to disclose climate risk, today confirmed they had not been approached to finance the controversial development in Queensland and "would not be" approached in the future.

"Today’s announcement by CommBank means it is even more unlikely that Adani’s project will gain the finance necessary to build the controversial Carmichael mine, but CommBank is still right at the bottom of the league table in terms of bank climate policies,” Greenpeace campaigner Jonathan Moylan said.

“Fourteen banks globally, including HSBC and Deutsche Bank, have ruled out funding new coal projects, and CommBank will continue to face public pressure until it does the same.”

"CommBank has financed more fossil fuel pollution than any other Australian bank since it committed to support the Paris Agreement only eighteen months ago.”

“If CommBank do not rule out funding fossil fuels projects in their new climate policy, that Paris Agreement commitment will look even more hollow.”

Analysis by University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Resources shows that to limit average global warming to two degrees, a third of the world’s oil reserves, half of its gas reserves and 80 per cent of coal reserves must remain in the ground. 

“Australians do not want their money invested in projects that damage the Great Barrier Reef, and pose a risk to Pacific Islanders and future generations,” continued Mr Moylan.

"Greenpeace will keep up the pressure to ensure that CommBank take steps to rule out new investments in the dying coal industry and reflect the concern of their customers, shareholders, and the wider Australian community."

For more information, contact:

Simon Black 
Senior Media Campaigner

Greenpeace Australia Pacific

Tel: 0418 219 086
Email: sblack@greenpeace.org

The supermarket giants today announced they would no longer offer the lightweight plastic shopping bags across their chains of stores network in Australia.

“This announcement by Woolworths and Coles show they are serious about their responsibilities as Australia’s largest supermarket chains,” Greenpeace campaigner Samantha Wockner said.

“This ban will stop billions of bags from being used each year in Australia, tens of millions of which can make their way into our waterways and eventually end inside marine life and our food.

“The environment ministers of Victoria and NSW need to recognise that they are being left behind on this issue and must step up and show the leadership that is embarrassingly being shown by supermarket chains and not them.”

Greenpeace Australia Pacific is calling on the state governments of NSW and Victoria to follow the lead set by Woolworths and Coles.

South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and ACT all have bans on single-use plastic bags. Queensland will introduce a ban in July 2018 while NSW and Victoria are yet to implement a policy on bags. Western Australia has stated it hopes to bring in a ban on bags in the next 18 months.

“The overwhelming majority of Australians support a ban on single use plastic bags - which are only used for minutes on average, but then take up to a thousand years to decompose,” Wockner said.

“There is no reason for the paralysis currently infecting some state and federal governments on this issue.

“It’s time for us to ban the bag at every level.”

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The letter also calls for members to rule out any involvement with Adani’s Carmichael mine in Queensland, with the NAIF currently considering a proposal to loan $1 billion of taxpayers’ money to the billionaire mining company for the construction of a rail line.

“Given the large amount of public money at stake and the high degree of community interest in this issue, it is particularly important that the public not be kept in the dark,” the letter reads.

“We ask you to be transparent and open in your decision-making.

“In reaching your decision, please give proper weight to the overwhelming popular conviction that public money should not be used to finance Adani’s high-risk Carmichael project.”

The letter comes one day before the fund is due to face a senate grilling over possible conflicts of interest on its board after revelations that one of the board’s directors also runs companies associated with mining labour and equipment hire and was personally known by the the former resources minister.

“The controversy surrounding the NAIF and its consideration of this project has united Australians from every background,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Nikola Casule said.

“This letter is another reminder that both experts in corporate governance and transparency as well as ordinary Australians are opposed to any taxpayers’ money being used to prop up a dying industry. New coal mines, like the Carmichael mine, aren’t viable without the support they get from the government in the form of subsidies and royalty holidays.

“With this letter more prominent voices join those of former treasurer Wayne Swan and former Liberal Party leader John Hewson in warning against any public money going into this mine.”

The letter has been signed by:

Jon AltmanProfessor of Anthropology, Deakin University

Frank BongiornoProfessor of History, Australian National University

Ian DunlopFormer Chair, Australian Coal Association and CEO AICD

Robyn EckersleyProfessor of Political Science, University of Melbourne

Alex GardnerProfessor of Natural Resources and Environmental Law, The University of

Western Australia

Sarah JosephProfessor of Law, Monash University

John KeaneProfessor of Politics, University of Sydney

Stephen Keim SCSenior Counsel

Greg McIntyre SCSenior Counsel

John QuigginProfessor of Economics, University of Queensland

Barry RafeDirector Trainer

Christopher WrightProfessor of Organisational Studies, University of Sydney

James WrightCEO, Future Business Council

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

For Australian interviews contact:

Simon Black
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Senior Media Campaigner
0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

Ahead of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, the Greenpeace Germany-commissioned study also found that in about half of the G20 countries, renewable energy has been cheaper or equal in price to electricity generated from dirty coal or hazardous nuclear power plants since 2015.

Read the full report

"There can be no excuses anymore. Climate protection increasingly makes economic sense across the G20 as renewable energy becomes cheaper than dirty coal and nuclear,” Greenpeace Germany energy expert Tobias Austrup said.

“Any G20 country that is still investing in coal and nuclear power plants is wasting their money on technology that will not be competitive in coming years. The G20 now has a responsibility to send a clear signal that accelerating the clean energy transition is not only the right thing to do for the climate, but also for the economy.”

The Finnish Lappeenranta University of Technology study, commissioned by Greenpeace, calculates the electricity generation costs in all G20 countries for the years 2015 and 2030.

The study found that wind farms already generate the cheapest form of electricity in 2015 in large parts of Europe, South America, the US, China and Australia. Due to rapid technical progress and falling price, in 2030 solar energy will be so cheap that it will be even cheaper than wind power in many G20 countries.

Global investments mirror the results of the Greenpeace study. UN figures reveal that in 2016 investments in renewables were double that of investments in conventional power stations. About 55 percent of the added electricity capacities were based on renewable energies last year - a record figure.

US President Trump, however, is mistakenly promoting coal and nuclear power.

"Trump’s energy policy is simply a bad deal," Austrup added. "The US has excellent conditions for expanding its wind and solar energy capabilities and states like California, Texas or Iowa will not miss this chance."

Notes:

Greenpeace Germany study comparing electricity production costs: http://gpurl.de/9IHVS

UN study on global trends in renewable energy investment: http://fs-unep-centre.org/sites/default/files/publications/globaltrendsinrenewableenergyinvestment2017.pdf

Media contacts:
Gregor Kessler, Greenpeace Germany, Communications: gregor.kessler@greenpeace.org +49 151 7270 2918

Greenpeace International Press Desk: +31 (0)20 718 2470 (available 24 hours) pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org

The analysis comes as Environment Ministers from across Australia meet in Melbourne today.

Greenpeace plastics campaigner Samantha Wockner, who is in Melbourne with Greenpeace supporters demonstrating outside the meeting, said:

“It’s time for New South Wales and Victoria to clean up their act and finally ban the bag.

“Every other state and territory is banning the bag and even the big supermarket chains are acting.

“Government inaction in our two most populous states is letting down the country.

“We’re calling on NSW Environment Minister Upton and Victorian Environment Minister D'Ambrosio to finally ban the bag at today’s meeting of environment ministers.

“Our analysis shows that the New South Wales and Victorian governments can’t get away with the excuse that they don’t need to act because the supermarkets are.

“Even once the supermarket bans are in place, there will be 1.6 to 2 billion bags each year not covered if NSW and Victoria fail to act.

“The analysis also shows that many websites including some government sources in Australia grossly underestimate the amount of plastic bags being used.

“Our oceans are already being clogged up with plastic pollution, and the last thing we need is billions more bags across NSW and Victoria ending up in these states’ beautiful beaches, waterways and oceans to strangle and suffocate marine life,” Ms Wockner said. 

Contact – Monique Vandeleur 0419 588 430

Notes for editors: 

For a copy of the analysis go to the Greenpeace blog

http://www.greenpeace.org.au/blog/billions-of-bags/#.WX_PEVqg9QN

A submission made to the inquiry by the NAIF itself shows that director Sally Pitkin ceased her association with the body on July 31, 2017.

No mention of Ms Pitkin’s departure has been made on the NAIF’s website nor has any public announcement been made about her position or the effect this resignation will have on the projects the board is considering.

“The NAIF is run by a compromised board of hand-picked mining executives, some of whom were personally familiar with, and recommended by, the former resources minister Matt Canavan,” Greenpeace Climate and Energy campaigner Nikola Casule said.

“They have consistently refused any public accountability or oversight. This latest resignation, done quietly behind the scenes only a week before a senate inquiry into the Facility, shows that the NAIF is in disarray and not fit for purpose.

“If the NAIF is truly to operate in the interests of Northern Australia rather than a $5 billion ‘slush fund’ of public money, as it was described by former treasurer, Wayne Swan, it must be disbanded so we can start again.”

The Australian Senate voted to establish an inquiry into the NAIF and any potential conflicts of interest on its board after revelations that one of the board’s directors, Karla Way-McPhail, also runs mining labour and equipment hire companies and had made “hyper-partisan comments” online in support of the coal industry.

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The activists are there to deliver this message to the Norwegian government from around the world: Put People over Arctic Oil.

They are also displaying a constructed giant globe in front of the rig with written statements to the government.

Thirty-five activists from 25 countries are escalating a peaceful protest after tailing the rig for one month in the Barents Sea.

The Norwegian government has opened up a new oil frontier in the Arctic. The state-owned oil company has just started to drill for oil at the Korpfjell well, a controversial site 415km from land.

It is close to the ice edge and an important feeding area for seabirds. This is the first opening of new areas for oil drilling in 20 years and it is the northernmost area licensed by Norway.

The “environmentally friendly” Norwegian government granted new oil licenses, as part of the 23rd license round, in the Arctic on June 10 last year.

Just ten days after, they ratified the Paris Agreement.

Greenpeace US activist Britt Baker, at the location, said:

“As an American and global citizen, Trump's decision to retreat from the Paris climate agreement and boost fossil fuels at the expense of people around the world was devastating. Likewise, we see the Norwegian government opening new oil areas in the Arctic at full throttle, in spite of knowing the dangers it will have for future generations. The major difference between the situation in the U.S and Norway is that Trump left the Paris agreement with tunnel-vision motives to extend handouts to the flailing fossil fuel industry.

"Norway may as well have left the Paris agreement given the Norwegian's government desire to accelerate fossil fuel production. This government is showing the same disrespect to global climate commitments as Trump”

Greenpeace and its co-plaintiff Nature and Youth are taking the government to court in November, arguing that the new oil licenses are in breach of the Norwegian Constitution’s right to a healthy environment (Article 112). Despite the ongoing legal case, Statoil is drilling several new oil wells in the Arctic this summer.

Greenpeace Norway Arctic campaigner, Erlend Tellnes, from on board the Arctic Sunrise, said:

“Norway is not as green as their image. With one hand, the government have signed the Paris Agreement and profiled themselvesas an environmental champion, whilst handing out hundreds of new oil blocks in the Arctic with the other. They ignore and disrespect environmental, scientific recommendations and have offered the oil industry licenses in some of the most pristine areas of the Arctic. Now they have to answer for their actions in court."

Within a month more than 150,000 people have joined the call to the Norwegian government to respect the Norwegian Constitution and The Paris Agreement, bringing the number to 355,000.

Notes to Editors

Photos from the protest: http://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJXVZK8M

Full collection from The People vs. Arctic Oil ship tour: http://bit.ly/2x9s0GC

Read more here about the climate lawsuit: http://www.greenpeace.org/norway/no/reports/Media-Briefing-Lawsuit-2017/

Read more about oil drilling in the Barents Sea: 

http://www.greenpeace.org/norway/no/reports/Media-Briefing-Oil-Drilling-in-the-Barents-Sea/

Media contacts

For interviews with activists and spokespersons on board:

Poul Bonke Justesen, communications lead, Greenpeace Nordic. Mobile: +45 2629 4938

Greenpeace International Press Desk:pressdesk.int@greenpeace.org +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours)

The bank, which is currently facing litigation by shareholders for failing to disclose climate risk, today confirmed they had not been approached to finance the controversial development in Queensland and "would not be" approached in the future.

"Today’s announcement by CommBank means it is even more unlikely that Adani’s project will gain the finance necessary to build the controversial Carmichael mine, but CommBank is still right at the bottom of the league table in terms of bank climate policies,” Greenpeace campaigner Jonathan Moylan said.

“Fourteen banks globally, including HSBC and Deutsche Bank, have ruled out funding new coal projects, and CommBank will continue to face public pressure until it does the same.”

"CommBank has financed more fossil fuel pollution than any other Australian bank since it committed to support the Paris Agreement only eighteen months ago.”

“If CommBank do not rule out funding fossil fuels projects in their new climate policy, that Paris Agreement commitment will look even more hollow.”

Analysis by University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Resources shows that to limit average global warming to two degrees, a third of the world’s oil reserves, half of its gas reserves and 80 per cent of coal reserves must remain in the ground. 

“Australians do not want their money invested in projects that damage the Great Barrier Reef, and pose a risk to Pacific Islanders and future generations,” continued Mr Moylan.

"Greenpeace will keep up the pressure to ensure that CommBank take steps to rule out new investments in the dying coal industry and reflect the concern of their customers, shareholders, and the wider Australian community."

For more information, contact:

Simon Black 
Senior Media Campaigner

Greenpeace Australia Pacific

Tel: 0418 219 086
Email: sblack@greenpeace.org

The Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill was passed with bipartisan support last night.

“With this law, Queensland become the latest state to listen to the people and take decisive action to limit plastic waste,” Greenpeace campaigner Samantha Wockner said.

“Despite polls showing overwhelming support for banning the bag both Victoria and NSW are saddled with do-nothing Premiers who are refusing to take the hint.

“Other states have now proved we can reduce plastic waste - the governments who aren't on board yet for bag bans or a container deposit scheme need to up their game.”

Queensland’s new law sees it join South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT which all have bans on single-use plastic bags. Western Australia has stated it hopes to introduce a ban on bags in the next 18 months.

NSW and Victoria are yet to implement any policy on bags.

“Every year in Australia, tens of millions of plastic bags make their way into our waterways and eventually end inside marine life and our food,” Wockner said.

“By continuing to fail to act on plastic bags NSW and Victoria are ensuring an estimated 1.6 - 2 billion more bags per year will be used in Australia [2].”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2eCLL21

[2] http://bit.ly/2w4zQA9

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The deputy PM made the troubling promise during a speech to the Minerals Council on Wednesday, during which he also attacked charities and environmental groups. The NAIF is currently considering a $1 billion loan to the Carmichael coal mine project.

“The deputy PM is no longer pretending the NAIF is intended to do anything else other than siphon off $5 billion of taxpayers’ money to be used as a gift to the mining industry,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said.

“This is a slap in the face to taxpayers, tourism operators, farmers, developers of renewable energy projects, and basically anyone else that isn't a well-paid mining executive living on public subsidies.

“The NAIF has already been heavily criticised by leading voices in government and the corporate sector and is the subject of a senate inquiry over potential conflicts of interest. Making it more biased in favour of mining will only worsen the perception that it’s little more than a government-run slush fund.”

The NAIF is not fit for purpose and the only solution is to scrap it completely and start again rather than creating a Frankenstein’s monster beholden only to the mining industry.

“Barnaby Joyce is right that Australians are in the fight of their lives,” Casule said.

“The coal mining industry is killing beloved natural treasures like the Great Barrier Reef, poisoning our air and water, and fuelling dangerous global warming.

“Major financial institutions and businesses are recognising that continuing to fetishise coal is a road to nowhere. As recently as yesterday the CEO of AGL said coal could not deliver the reliable, affordable energy Australians need.  

“The deputy PM needs to wake up, dismantle the NAIF, and stop propping up a dead industry that is doing immense damage.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2vMpdXs

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org

The deputy PM made the troubling promise during a speech to the Minerals Council on Wednesday, during which he also attacked charities and environmental groups. The NAIF is currently considering a $1 billion loan to the Carmichael coal mine project.

“The deputy PM is no longer pretending the NAIF is intended to do anything else other than siphon off $5 billion of taxpayers’ money to be used as a gift to the mining industry,” Greenpeace Australia Pacific Climate and Energy Campaigner, Nikola Casule, said.

“This is a slap in the face to taxpayers, tourism operators, farmers, developers of renewable energy projects, and basically anyone else that isn't a well-paid mining executive living on public subsidies.

“The NAIF has already been heavily criticised by leading voices in government and the corporate sector and is the subject of a senate inquiry over potential conflicts of interest. Making it more biased in favour of mining will only worsen the perception that it’s little more than a government-run slush fund.”

The NAIF is not fit for purpose and the only solution is to scrap it completely and start again rather than creating a Frankenstein’s monster beholden only to the mining industry.

“Barnaby Joyce is right that Australians are in the fight of their lives,” Casule said.

“The coal mining industry is killing beloved natural treasures like the Great Barrier Reef, poisoning our air and water, and fuelling dangerous global warming.

“Major financial institutions and businesses are recognising that continuing to fetishise coal is a road to nowhere. As recently as yesterday the CEO of AGL said coal could not deliver the reliable, affordable energy Australians need.  

“The deputy PM needs to wake up, dismantle the NAIF, and stop propping up a dead industry that is doing immense damage.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

[1] http://bit.ly/2vMpdXs

For interviews contact:

Simon Black

Greenpeace Senior Media Campaigner

0418 219 086 / simon.black@greenpeace.org