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Tackling Global Deforestation : The Role of Investors

30th Oct. 2023

A new research report that Mindful Money has released today reveals the troubling connection between New Zealand KiwiSaver and managed fund investors and the companies driving deforestation.

Our new research report reveals the troubling connection between New Zealand KiwiSaver and managed fund investors and the companies driving deforestation.

The study shows a significant increase in New Zealand investments in specific companies that are known to be major contributors to deforestation, operating in sectors such as palm oil, beef, and soybeans. Over the past year, the total investment in these companies has grown from $38 million to $68 million, with the majority ($40 million) coming from KiwiSaver accounts.

Despite the pledge by 145 governments to halt deforestation, made at the Climate Summit COP26 last year, international finance is still funding massive deforestation of tropical forests in the Amazon basin, the Congo basin and South East Asia. This destruction transforms these vital ecosystems from carbon sinks into net carbon emitters, exacerbating global emissions and accelerating climate change.

Deforestation also has devastating impacts on ecosystems, contributing to biodiversity loss and violations of the rights of indigenous and forest-dwelling peoples. As of 2022, 61% of the financial institutions financing the companies driving deforestation do not have a deforestation policy covering their lending and investments.

Want to help stop deforestation?

🔍 Check your KiwiSaver, or investment fund for companies below implicated in deforestation. 

Mindful Money's list of 24 companies driving deforestation:

Adecoagro SA

Archer-Daniels Midland

Bunge Finance BV

Bunge Limited

Cargill Inc

COFCO Corp

Genting Plantations Bhd

Glencore Plc

Golden Agri-Resources Ltd

Hap Seng Plantations Holdings Bhd

IOI Corp Bhd

JBS Finance Luxembourg Sarl

JBS Investments II Gmbh

JBS SA

JBS USA Finance Inc

Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd

Marfrig Global Foods SA

Minerva

Posco International Corp

PT Astra International Tbk

PT Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk

Sime Darby Plantation Bhd

Ta Ann Holdings Bhd

Wilmar International Ltd

CHECK YOUR KIWISAVER OR INVESTMENT FUND

Please share this message on to anyone who you think would be interested. 

Read our latest report: 

Tackling Global Deforestation : The Role of Investors Report

The study shows a significant increase in New Zealand investments in specific companies that are known to be major contributors to deforestation, operating in sectors such as palm oil, beef, and soybeans.

Over the past year, the total investment in these companies has grown from $38 million to $68 million, with the majority ($40 million) coming from KiwiSaver accounts.

READ FULL REPORT

Listen to our seminar exploring our findings

This seminar on global deforestation was facilitated by Barry Coates, Mindful Money's Founder and CEO, with panellists:

  • Emma Thomson: Forest 500 Lead at the international research institute, Global Canopy
  • Alana Lampitt: Partner at Chapman Tripp and co-author of the report ‘The Business of Nature’, published by The Aotearoa Circle, on directors’ duties to manage nature-based risk.
  • Shannen Barns: Research Analyst at Mindful Money and lead author in Mindful Money’s report ‘Tackling Global Deforestation: The role of New Zealand investors’