Traditional landowners say pension funds have an obligation to prevent “adverse human rights impacts” from energy projects.
A group of indigenous Australians have filed a human rights complaint against 20 large Australian pension funds for investing in two of Santos Ltd’s gas projects, putting pressure on the funds for their plans to invest in fossil fuels.
Three traditional landowners alleged in the complaint, filed directly with the retirement funds on Wednesday, that the funds had an “obligation to prevent adverse human rights impacts on the companies in which they are invested.”
Indigenous communities claimed that the Barossa and Narrabri gas projects will threaten their culture, livelihoods and risk harming the environment, including affecting breeding patterns and nesting grounds for animals.
A member of one of the funds requested information under an Australian corporation law that requires the fund to provide its reasons for investing in Santos and justify the benefits, the complaint showed.
Environmental, social and governance issues have increasingly weighed on investors in funds and companies, including forcing management changes at mining company Rio Tinto after it destroyed culturally significant rock shelters in Western Australia’s Juukan Gorge for an ore mine. iron in 2020.
Santos did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but previously said that he consults with all key stakeholders for all of his projects.
Commonwealth Super Corp, AustralianSuper, Australian Retirement Trust, Aware Super and AMP, the five largest pension funds, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The 20 funds collectively manage more than $1.7 trillion Australian ($1.13 trillion US).
The move by indigenous landowners comes after the Gomeroi people filed an appeal in Australia’s Federal Court in January over a permit for the A$3.6 billion (US$2.4 billion) Narrabri gas project in the state. of New South Wales. The National Tribunal for Indigenous Titles had allowed Santos to go ahead with the project in December.
“We will not allow (the environment) to be damaged or desecrated to the point where it does not return to its natural state,” Karra Kinchela, a Gomeroi traditional landowner, said in Wednesday’s statement.
An appeal by Santos to resume drilling on its A$3.6 billion (US$2.4 billion) Barossa gas project off northern Australia was rejected by federal court in December after indigenous groups raised objections.
Santos then said he would request new approvals for his largest project in accordance with the court order.
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