In this episode of the IGCC podcast, we share insights from a recent Corporate Engagement Working Group session exploring how shareholder engagement drives real-world emissions reductions.

Featuring new research from Kevin Chuah, Senior Research Fellow, Wharton Impact (University of Pennsylvania), the session examines the impact of initiatives such as Climate Action 100+ on corporate emissions intensity. Using global data and a causal research design, the analysis shows that engagement can reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions — particularly when combined with strong climate policy.

A discussion follows, facilitated by Alison Ewings, General Manager ESG at QIC and a Climate Action 100+ Steering Committee member, which explores three key themes for investors:

• why shareholder engagement and regulation work best as complements, not substitutes
• how board networks can amplify engagement impact beyond targeted companies
• what engagement outcomes mean for company valuations and investor risk

The episode offers practical insights for investors considering how stewardship, policy advocacy and collaboration can work together to drive economy-wide emissions reductions and protect long-term returns.

Australia’s 2035 climate target (62–70%) comes with an NDC, Net Zero Plan and sector roadmaps. IGCC’s policy team breaks down the implications for portfolios — from efficiency and electrification to methane, heavy vehicles, land sinks and clean exports — plus why the Safeguard Mechanism review in 2026–27 will set the pace.

We've also published the takeaways of this conversation as a blog post. 

Join us for the IGCC Summit, 16-17 October 2025. Tickets are still available. 

Australia has just released its first National Climate Risk Assessment alongside a National Adaptation Plan — big milestones for understanding physical climate risk and what it means for our economy and communities.

In this episode, IGCC’s Fergus Pitt sits down with Kate Simmonds and Frankie Muskovic to unpack what matters for investors: the key risks across the economy, infrastructure and primary industries, how finance can both amplify and reduce cascading risks, and where the Adaptation Plan delivers — and falls short.

We talk about the implications for disclosures, portfolio risk assessments and where investors can lean in to build resilience.

Want more? Join us at the IGCC Summit, 15–16 October in Sydney. 

Financing Australia’s Corporate Climate Transition

Despite 66% of ASX200 companies having net zero targets, most aren’t backing these ambitions with the capital needed to deliver real-world results.

In this episode, IGCC’s Corporate Engagement Director Richard and Cassandra Austen from Pollination unpack the findings of Financing Australia’s Corporate Climate Transition — a new investor-focused report assessing how well companies are aligning their capital allocation with their climate goals.

We explore:

• Why capital allocation is the missing link between ambition and action
• How investors can assess whether climate is embedded in capital sourcing, management, deployment and enabling activities
• What we learned from evaluating 12 major Australian companies using the new Guiding Principles
• Why policy certainty — like 2035 targets and sectoral pathways — is essential to close the investment gap

Whether you’re an investor, board director or policymaker, this episode offers practical insights to support better capital decisions and accelerate Australia’s transition to net zero.

🗂️ Download the full report: IGCC-Capital-Allocation-Report-2025.pdf
📩 Subscribe for updates: https://igcc.org.au/about/ 

Batteries are critical to Australia’s net-zero future, but their economics face a new challenge that needs an urgent response from operators and owners. Irrational bidding behaviour in our fast response service is decimating revenue streams for batteries across the country, and if this continues, batteries may become a less favourable investment. 

IGCC gets Alan Reid from Reposit, Paul Moore from Viotas and Wendel Hortop from Modo Energy to discuss quick solutions and broader market rule changes that will support more batteries coming online, and sooner.

We break down the key insights from IGCC’s State of Net Zero 2025 report. Despite global headwinds, investor momentum on climate is growing — with stronger commitments, deeper risk assessments, and a shift toward systems-level stewardship. We cover what’s driving progress, what’s holding us back, and where the biggest opportunities lie for accelerating the transition to net zero.