Protesters have gathered outside a Cowes bank branch to protest investments in coal

Cowes protesters gathered in wet weather, under the watchful eye of police, to take a stand for climate action. Find out why.

Police outnumbered protesters at a climate protest in Cowes on Wednesday.

Members of the Bass Coast Climate Action Group took to the town’s main street, positioning themselves outside of National Australia Bank (NAB) to protest their investment in Whitehaven Coal.

Year 10 student at Newhaven College, Joey Thompson, said NAB claimed it was committed to net zero by 2050 but had created “loopholes” to allow their support for coal to continue.

“In their policy they have committed to no new coal projects but they have made a loophole through corporate finance,” he said.

In February 2020 NAB gave a $110 million loan to Whitehaven Coal, one of the biggest coal companies in Australia.

Cowes NAB protest.

“We are trying to pressure them to become the green bank they claim to be,” Joey said.

Jessica Harrison said the protests would “be continuing” as the “situation becomes more urgent”.

@newswithbrittany Protesters have fathered in the Cowes main street to protest NABs supoort of whitehaven coal. #climatechange#climateaction#protest#nab#coal♬ original sound - News with Brittany

The small group of protesters were met with four police cars and about six to eight officers, working out to be about one officer per two protesters.

“The whole Cowes station must be here,” one onlooker said.

Cowes NAB protest.

Several students were present at the protest.

Joey said it was important for the younger generation to involve themselves in climate action because it is “their world”.

“We are the ones that are going to be growing up in this world, we can be a powerful force if we all come together,” he said.

The protesters moved on after a few hours.

In a statement NAB said they were “committed” to climate action.

Climate protesters outside NAB in Cowes.

“Climate action is everyone’s job. We need to be part of the solution and support our customers as they take action too,” a spokesman said.

“NAB is the only Australian bank that has signed the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative’s Collective Commitment to Climate Action, working towards aligning business operations and lending portfolios to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“We’re making progress on our goals of net zero emissions through our lending by 2050, and providing $70 billion in environmental financing by 2025.”