{"id":9463,"date":"2026-11-13T14:19:54","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T14:19:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/?p=9463"},"modified":"2026-11-13T14:19:56","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T14:19:56","slug":"business-pulse-check-corporations-feel-the-heat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rbc.com\/en\/thought-leadership\/climate-action\/business-pulse-check-corporations-feel-the-heat\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Pulse Check: Corporations feel the heat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tClimate Action\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness Pulse Check: Corporations feel the heat\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\tWhat 150 executives told us about their companies’ climate policies\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Government climate policies appear to be relaxing, but businesses are still feeling the heat of climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because the climate change has impacted many companies’ operations: from Okanagan Valley winemakers dealing with smoke affected grapes after crushing wildfires, to public utilities forced to import energy after seeing water levels dwindle, and homeowners facing rising insurance home costs on flooding and other forms of extreme weather supercharged by climate change. The United Nations’ latest report notes that the world\u2019s set to cross 1.5\u00b0C global warming, which are already proving that climate impacts \u201cwill strike faster, hit harder, and last longer, costing more lives and causing deeper disruption.”1<\/a><\/sup> Environmental damage is pervasive on the ground, even if policy pressures, on paper, have receded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is borne by investment even as global policy has eased: Global investments in global energy transition hit a record US$2.3 trillion last year, an 8% jump from the previous year, as companies shrugged off the U.S.\u2019s global tariff war and trade barriers are raised across the world.2<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate-tech investments in Canada remain subdued, with $336 million across 18 deals in the first half of 2026, 4% more in dollar terms but eight fewer transactions than the same period last year, according to the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.3<\/a><\/sup> Tech dollars are most likely being diverted to AI or areas where policy is on surer footing and returns are quicker. Climate-tech,4<\/a><\/sup> innovation and programs seem to be jostling for attention to show competitive return on investment compared to other sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key finding in this year\u2019s Business Pulse survey of 150 executives was that very few executives offered excuses. Less than 20% cited political dynamics in North America as reasons to scale back their climate commitments, compared to the past two years. And only 1 in 10 cited concerns over eroding economic competitiveness for not pursuing climate policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some other insights from the annual survey:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Standing<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The findings are reinforced by the surveyed executives\u2019 strong C-suite commitments, with these executives overwhelmingly seeing themselves as the biggest drivers of climate strategies in companies (70%), followed by demand from their consumers (43%). Government regulations and incentives now play a less significant role in corporate decision-making than before, the survey suggests. That could be because incentives are easier to get or they are not deemed a prerequisite to energy transition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The survey of 150 senior business executives across Canada suggest the C-suite is championing climate policies, but access to capital remains a persistent bottleneck:<\/p>\n\n\n\n