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At RBC, we engage stakeholders, attend conferences, and sponsor and conduct collaborative and independent research projects on emerging environmental issues. We believe that this deepens our understanding of environmental issues and as a result, we are better able to achieve a sustainable balance between environmental stewardship and economic prosperity. Some examples are cited below.
Research and thought leadership
Staying informed of the latest scientific research on environmental
issues and environmental best practices is an important element
of the RBC Environmental Blueprint. In 2008, RBC prepared the
following in-house research reports on:
- Opportunities for RBC to Support Safe Drinking Water for First
Nations in Canada, March 2008
- Golf and the Environment, to support our commitment to the
RBC Canadian Open, July 2008
- Water supplies in the Caribbean, to support RBC Blue Water Project grants to charities in the Caribbean
- Impacts of Water Scarcity on Sectors and Geographical Regions,
to better understand the risks and opportunities associated with
changing water availability, August 2008
As part of the UNEP FI North American Task Force, we also commissioned
a report, If You Ask Us... Understanding Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Requests, to review sustainability indices and disclosure
initiatives in North America and Europe, January 2009
Stakeholder Engagement
RBC liaised with a number of stakeholder groups in 2008 to discuss environmental issues related to policy development, transaction review, portfolio management, operational impacts and business development
opportunities. In 2008, we:
- Collaborated with non-governmental organizations
including the Canadian Boreal Initiative, Durrell Wildlife Preservation
Trust, Forest Ethics, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Rainforest Action Network, David Suzuki Foundation and Tides Canada Foundation
- Participated in industry associations including: Conference
Board of Canada’s Business Council for Sustainability, UN Environment
Programme Finance Initiative – North American Task Force
(co-chair), the US Environmental Bankers Association and the EXCEL
Partnership
- Established and supported RBC environmental committees, working groups and networks including: RBC Global Environment
Committee; Banking and Insurance Green Opportunities Working
Group; Business Financial Services Green Strategy Team; Green IT
Working Group; SRI Working Group; RBC Wealth Management USA
Environmental Committee and Liberty Insurance Green Team
- Was a platinum sponsor of the 2008 Globe Conference, a biennial
trade fair and conference on business and the environment. RBC
also planned and moderated a session at Globe 2008 on Financial Institutions: Mainstreaming Sustainability into the Decision Making Process
- Gave presentations on finance and sustainability at conferences
and to university classes; and discussed finance and environmental issues with federal and provincial government agencies.
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Review our What We're Doing section to find out about our environmental priorities and commitments. |
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Download the PDF |
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