Coffs Harbour to focus on environmentally and socially responsible investments

Coffs Harbour City Council has announced it will, in future, seek to invest in funds that support environmentally and socially responsible activities following the adoption of a revised Investment Policy.

Some of the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) activities that would be supported include:

Renewable energy
Water and energy conservation
Production of environmentally-friendly products, recycling, waste and emissions reduction
Fair trade
Provision of housing, particularly social housing
Equal opportunity employment
Health and aged care

At the same time, Council has pledged to avoid investments that support:

Production of pollutants, toxins and/or greenhouse gases
Habitat destruction
Nuclear power
Uranium mining
Abuse of human rights or labour rights
Bribery or corruption
Armaments supply
The manufacture of alcohol, tobacco or gambling products.

SRIs will be chosen in future where the investment falls within legislation, the Policy’s objectives and limitations and the rate of return is favourable in comparison to other investments on offer at that time.

The revised policy adoption coincided with the passing of a Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Tegan Swan that called for Council to reduce investment in any financial institutions that support the fossil fuel industry.

“The Notice of Motion and Policy have similar intents,” said Andrew Beswick, Council’s Director Business Services.

“But councils are required to be prudent in their investment decisions and therefore need to split their investments between institutions with the highest credit ratings and lowest risk – which are often the biggest banks which do invest in fossil fuels – and those with lower level credit ratings. Lower rated institutions tend to be smaller and don’t participate in such investments.

“As a result of the revised policy, we would currently be able to divest up to a maximum of $22.5m of investments.”