NatWest’s AGM was adjourned for half an hour after Christian Climate Action, alongside other groups, disrupted it with a statement and singing.

These groups are calling on the bank to stand by its climate commitments after it recently weakened its oil and gas policy. And opposed the re-election of its chair.

In February 2026, NatWest loosened its oil and gas policy, opening the door to finance more fossil fuel expansion by dropping a requirement for its clients to have a credible transition plan. NatWest also dropped some of its climate targets on aluminium, cement, iron and steel.


A Christian Climate Action spokesperson added: “NatWest does not seem to care about people or planet. It has backtracked on its oil and gas policy, opening the door to financing more fossil fuel expansion. No responsible bank should be backtracking in this way, because we have such a short window to avoid the worst possible outcomes of the climate crisis.”
The Church of England has signed a statement, alongside 15 other organisations, calling for a meeting with the bank and investors to discuss its future direction on climate strategy within the next three months. The Church of England Pensions Board and AkademikerPension pre-declared their intention to vote against the chair of the Board at NatWest.

Although the chair of NatWest’s board was re-elected buy a margin, ShareAction pointed to the reduced level of support. Jeanne Martin, head of banking programmes at ShareAction added: “This is a significant level of dissent in a system where board chairs are normally waved through with overwhelming support.”

Provisional results recorded were 92.1 per cent votes for the re-election of the Chair, compared with 97.63 per cent last year.

---