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Environment

 

RBC is committed to proactive and prudent management of the environmental aspects of our business. The RBC Environmental Blueprint describes the policies, programs, and guidelines planned or underway to support this commitment. We believe that fulfilling our environmental goals will lead to short- and long-term benefits for clients, shareholders, employees and the communities in which we live and conduct business.

2010 Performance Highlights

A wave of support: RBC calls for Blue Water Project Grant applications

RBC Blue Water Project commits $1 million to help rebuild Haiti infrastructure

2009 Performance Highlights

RBC and other industry experts launch CleanTech North

RBC signs Copenhagen Communiqué joining business leaders around the world calling for action on climate change

RBC’s participation in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be carbon neutral

RBC named to Canadian Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index 2009

Spotlight on Real Estate: Top Four Trends in Green Buildings

RBC's Blue Water Project donates $4.1 million to 31 organizations around the world

RBC to support offshore wind generation projects in the United Kingdom

RBC sponsors Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report

RBC to support Imagine H20 Innovation Challenge

RBC is the first bank to participate in Alberta carbon offset market

RBC named one of Canada’s Greenest Employers

Priorities 2008 Performance highlights
Reduce the intensity of our environmental footprint Converted all office paper purchased in Canada, the U.S. and the British Isles to paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or to 100% recycled content

Opened 36 new green-powered branches in Canada, giving us a total of 76 Canadian branches powered by 5,042 MWh of certified “green” emission-free power, and reducing our carbon footprint by 2,095 tonnes

Expanded our energy data coverage to 65% of our global floor area compared to 35% coverage in 2007. This is the first year we reported energy data for major leased premises in Canada, the United States and British Isles, including energy reporting for our key data and processing centres
Promote environmentally responsible business activities Performed detailed environmental credit risk assessments on 650 transactions in Canada and the United States

Applied the Equator Principles to five large projects

Trained Capital Markets and Risk Management staff on climate change and carbon markets
Offer environmental products and services Launched our greenhouse gas (GHG) emission trading desk with capabilities to transact on exchanges in Canada, the United States and the European Union

Launched the RBC Energy Saver™ mortgage in Canada which offers clients a $300 rebate on a home energy audit

Expanded our electronic statement program, switching more than 1.3 million accounts from paper to electronic statements

Learn more about RBC and the Environment

Vital Statistics
  2008 2007 2006
Office paper use/FTE .059 .060 .054
Energy use per m2 -
branches (MWh/m2)
.308 .286 .270
Energy use per m2 -
major leased premises (MWh/m2)
.515 - -
CO2e emissions from energy use***
(tonnes/m2)
.092 .053 .050
CO2e emissions from employee
travel (tonnes/FTE)
.355 .382 .359
Transactions assessed
under Equator Principles
5 6 4

 

Issues and trends

RBC is mindful of environmental issues and emerging trends and, where possible, incorporates measures to address these challenges in policies and programs. Some of the trends we are observing include:

  • While all companies must take responsibility for the environmental impact of their direct operations and purchasing activities, financial institutions are also expected to assess the environmental impact of the activities of the clients to whom we provide credit.

  • Financial institutions are increasingly expected to provide services that allow clients to reduce their impact on the environment and adapt to unavoidable environmental impacts, such as climate change and water scarcity.

  • Financial institutions are increasingly expected to develop and adhere to lending and procurement policies that promote sustainable development.

  • There is a growing demand for quality and quantity in environmental and social reporting. The proliferation of sustainability ratings, indices and NGO information requests can divert resources away from designing, implementing and managing environmental programs.

  • There has been a growing level of NGO opposition to providing financing to carbon intensive sectors, especially for oil sands development and coal-fired power generation.

  • There is growing consumer suspicion of exaggerated or false claims regarding a company's environmental performance or the environmental virtues of a product or service, known as "greenwash."

Related Links
  Environment Site
  RBC Blue Water ProjectTM

In the News
  Canadians’ water conservation efforts declining: 2010 Canadian Water Attitudes Study (10.03.17)
 
waterdrop Do you agree? Take our Watertude poll
  RBC and Imagine H20 announce winners of first global water prize (10.03.08)
  RBC hosts 18 banks at Oil Sands “Day of Learning” (10.03.01)
  More >>

02/03/2010 12:21:06