The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors is working with five large companies to encourage them to adopt a new carbon risk disclosure regime.
Macquarie Group has doubled the number of transactions vetted under its environmental and social risk policy and has strengthened its climate risk assessment procedures.
Westpac's has signalled a multi-billion dollar boost in green bond issuances and 'climate solution' spending, and will impose new constraints on lending for coal power stations and mines.
Even the threat of activist shareholder resolutions can prompt companies such as Woodside to improve their carbon disclosure, according to Ben Gocher of Market Forces.
Listed companies that fail to properly manage discussions with investors on environmental issues are at risk of breaching continuous disclosure obligations, according to the association that represents investor relations managers.
More than one in four institutional investors expect to see dramatic improvements in the quality of carbon disclosure by companies, according to new EY survey results.
More than $4 billion has now been raised by Australian companies through climate bonds, following a new $650 million issuance by the Commonwealth Bank.
The Queensland Treasury Corporation has issued Australia's largest green bond, and National Australia Bank says it shows the growing importance of environmental investors.
Activist group Market Forces has criticised the big four banks for lending to fossil fuel projects including the Ichthys LNG development, but noted none of them funded a coal mine expansion in 2016.