Almost half of all shareholders at Santos AGM back stronger emissions target

Activists says resolution shows strong support for fossil fuel companies to set limits on their own emissions and those that result from their products

Oil and gas giant Santos faces increased pressure over its stance on climate change after nearly half its shareholders backed resolutions that it should strengthen emissions targets and review its membership of fossil fuel lobby groups.

Ethical investor group the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility said the level of support for a shareholder-led climate resolution was unprecedented, and showed large institutional investors had "woken up to the damage a growing gas industry is wreaking on the planet".