The Financial Post reports in its Wednesday, June 18, edition that Canadian banks were once again ranked as among the world's top fossil fuel financiers in a report that showed overall funding rose in 2024 despite it being the hottest year on record.
A Canadian Press dispatch to the Post reports that the Banking on Climate Chaos report by a coalition of environmental groups found that lending and underwriting among the world's 65 top banks rose by $162.5-billion last year to $869-billion, a reversal of a downward trend since 2021 (all figures U.S.).
RBC, the country's largest bank, was ranked as the eighth biggest oil and gas financier globally with $34.3-billion in new commitments last year, while TD Bank Group was ranked ninth with $29-billion.
The report pegged Bank of Nova Scotia as 13th, Canadian CIBC at 14th and BMO Financial Group as 16th, with all Big Five lenders showing a hike in funding from the previous year, including a 46 per cent jump for TD and a 41 per cent rise for CIBC.
Stand.earth director Richard Brooks says the financing trend shows banks are misaligned with climate science and have abdicated any leadership on the issue.
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