Royal Bank of Canada faces scrutiny for funding fossil fuel projects

RBC is under fire for its continued financing of fossil fuel projects, despite its public stance on climate change and support for Indigenous rights.

Carl Meyer reports for The Narwhal.

In short:

RBC president David McKay claimed the bank is a leader in addressing climate change, but it remains the top fossil fuel financier among Canada's big five banks.
Jocey Alec, a Wet’suwet’en land defender, confronted RBC about its role in the Coastal GasLink pipeline but was cut off after 11 seconds at a shareholder meeting.
After pressure from New York City, RBC agreed to disclose its financial ties to fossil fuel projects compared to clean energy sources.

Key quote:

"I feel like they do get the message, but they just don’t want to acknowledge their complicity on what they’re funding."

— Jocey Alec, Wet’suwet’en land defender

Why this matters:

RBC's financing decisions have significant environmental and social implications, particularly for Indigenous communities opposing fossil fuel projects. Public scrutiny and shareholder pressure could push the bank to more transparent and sustainable practices.

thenarwhal.ca

A factory or power plant with smokestacks emitting pollution

Credit: Faux Toe/Big Stock Photo

Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows

Critics accuse leading firms of sabotaging climate action but say data increasingly being used to hold them to account.

Read the Full Article on

www.theguardian.com

A row of data center cooling towers connected to a building with pipes

Credit: octofocus/Big Stock Photo

The AI boom will increase US carbon emissions—but it doesn’t have to

A new analysis finds that data centers’ energy demands will drastically increase power plant emissions over the next decade. Renewables, though, could cut them while helping keep prices from rising.

Read the Full Article on

www.wired.com

Royal Bank of Canada faces scrutiny for funding fossil fuel projects

A California climate expert is working to restore climate risk scores deleted by Zillow

Patagonia is burning

Half of world’s CO2 emissions come from just 32 fossil fuel firms, study shows

After Helene, rural North Carolina turns to solar and battery hubs

Scientists set up camp on Thwaites glacier in Antarctica

The world has entered a new era of ‘water bankruptcy,’ UN report says

The AI boom will increase US carbon emissions—but it doesn’t have to

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.