In 2019-20, we disrupted ‘business as usual’ and called for companies to lift their game on climate action.
Our campaign in action
This year, ACF played a key role in ensuring the Business Council of Australia (BCA) — one of Australia’s biggest business lobby groups — adopted a policy for net zero emissions by 2050.
We engaged publicly and privately with key companies belonging to the BCA, asking them to seek changes on the group’s climate advocacy position or to reconsider their membership. The ACF community inundated BCA member companies like Coles and Woolworths with calls, emails and social media messages. People raised questions at AGMs and together we used our power as customers, employees and shareholders to demand change.
In February, BCA Chief Jennifer Westacott called for net zero emissions in Australia by 2050.
Workers installing solar panels in Adelaide. Photo: James Thomas Photo (Claude Raschella)
Alongside our BCA campaign we continued to commission and promote research to help change the conversation about the economy and the environment in Australia. We mobilised our community to call and email ANZ and Westpac to continue the push for fossil fuel divestment.
In May, we responded to the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 with our economic agenda document — Recover, Rebuild, Renew — calling for an economic recovery that is climate- and nature-positive. We have since had a number of good inside-track meetings with major and minor parties federally, and across New South Wales and Queensland.
Our impact
- We exposed the BCA's decade-long lobbying to undermine climate policy in Australia, making the front page of The Australian.
- The BCA is becoming a force for good in its climate and nature advocacy, with the peak body leading positive interventions through the Australian Climate Roundtable.
- As part of an alliance of organisations we pushed Westpac to commit to divesting from thermal coal by 2030.
