Climate emergency & HESTA’s record

Hesta’s 2020 announcement to divest from coal by 2030 (quickly matched by Aware Super) in the context of climate emergency is like a kick in the guts to our clients and our kids – this leisurely stroll is just “greenwash” – when steep cuts are required this decade in order to have a chance to avoid dangerous climate tipping points. In 2011 the critical decade for action was announced -and – at the end of that decade – Hesta decided it would take another decade to divest from coal only. “Delay is the new denial”.

Hesta also publicly argues for a policy of not divesting – but maintaining “engagement” with industry to influence them for good. Like they recently did to demand the sacking of Rio Tinto’s chief who failed to respect indigenous culture.

However there is no public record of Hesta engaging fossil fuel executives to phase out their dangerous industry as soon as possible in line with climate science and include a just transition for workers in the process.

Hesta’s less than satisfactory announcement on coal made last year, came only after they received a letter from 140 eminent medical professionals demanding they divest from fossil fuels – this came from the work of our health industry colleagues at the Healthy Futures campaign – now it’s our turn to join forces and ramp up the pressure.

 

  • Inoculating supporters against Hesta’s claims of action
  • Policy of Engagement with FF
  • Recent commitment on coal
  • “delay is the new denial”
  • When the best available science tells us that countries such Australia must reach zero emissions as soon as possible, a “go slow” approach to closing polluting power plants is not good enough. (Liegh ewbank email 12/3/21)
  • In a clear attempt to greenwash the drawn-out exit from coal, EnergyAustralia used the occasion to announce a plan to build a big battery at its Jeeralang gas power plant.
  • All levels of government must take action to instigate a staged and funded transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. If they fail to show political leadership then we’ll see an unplanned and unjust transition.
  • University of Melbourne modelling shows an Emissions Reduction Target of 75 percent by 2030 is achievable and would create over 50,000 jobs. In victoria
  • https://www.actonclimate.org.au/report_launch_star_of_the_south
  • While the announcement of a coal plant closure is a momentous occasion, in the context of the climate emergency, the proposal to keep Australia’s most polluting power plant operating until the second half of the decade is a kick in the guts.
  • Why hasn’t Hesta been using its’ influence to pressure BHP etc etc to phase out its FF activities ASAP – obviously we the members have not been pressuring Hesta enough/ Hesta is comfortable with ongoing FF burning