New research reveals Australia’s highest emitting companies are failing to back their net zero commitments with adequate investment, highlighting the need for a strong 2035 emissions reduction target and net zero plans to ensure Australia’s transition.

The Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) and Pollination have released the first comprehensive analysis of how Australian companies translate climate commitments into capital allocation decisions.

The Financing Australia’s Corporate Climate Transition report finds a significant disconnect between corporate ambition and investment reality.

Despite 66% of ASX200 companies making net zero commitments, few have adequately integrated climate considerations into their capital allocation processes. This investment gap between ambition and action highlights a weakness in Australia's transition to net zero without strong policies that ensure adequate private investment.

Major companies fail to align with commitments 

Testing a new evaluation framework against 12 major ASX-listed companies in high emitting sectors highlighted the concerning gap. Only one company achieved high alignment in more than 50% of criteria, while three companies showed low alignment across half or more criteria. While 75% of companies demonstrated medium or high alignment in transition investment quality, only one company met the high alignment criteria for actual capital quantity.

Policy certainty needed 

This investment gap demonstrates why Australia needs a credible 2035 emissions reduction target coupled with comprehensive sectoral pathways that provide clear direction for each part of the economy to reach net zero by 2050.

A strong policy framework will give companies and investors certainty to make substantial capital commitments that align with their decarbonisation goals. The Climate Change Authority has recently released a sector pathways review which provides the foundation, but government action is needed to translate this into clear Sectoral Emissions Reduction Plans.

“This is the first deep dive into whether Australian companies are actually backing their net zero commitments with real investment,” said Richard Proudlove, IGCC Director of Corporate Engagement. “What we’ve found is a significant gap between ambition and action.

"Australia has the opportunity to lead in the transition, but without clear policy signals and adequate capital deployment, we risk being left behind and missing out on huge economic opportunities.”

A framework for better capital alignment

The report introduces a comprehensive framework with seven Guiding Principles across capital sourcing, management, deployment and enabling activities. It includes practical tools for investors and identifies ‘red flags’ indicating inadequate climate ambition.

“Companies are announcing capital expenditure numbers, but our analysis shows these disclosures don’t provide enough detail for investors to assess whether the capital is sufficient or appropriately targeted to achieve their stated decarbonisation goals,” said Zoe Whitton, Managing Director at Pollination Group. “Without clear policy frameworks like sectoral pathways, companies lack the guidance they need for effective capital allocation, and investors can’t properly evaluate their transition strategies. This framework helps fill that gap.”

The framework was developed through global case studies, stakeholder interviews and evaluation of 12 major Australian companies. It supports the Climate Action 100+ initiative by providing sophisticated tools for investor-company dialogue on decarbonisation progress.

Effective climate transition requires capital allocation across entire sectors. This research provides crucial insights for policymakers designing the sectoral plans needed to accelerate Australia’s transition.

As the government prepares 2035 emissions reductions targets, this analysis reinforces the need for comprehensive sectoral pathways. Without clear policy signals, it will be increasingly difficult to close the investment gap, and Australia could miss out on the economic benefits of a decarbonised economy.

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