Skip to main content

Helping to shape the future of our planet together

As global temperatures rise, the effects of climate change are felt by everybody. Shifts in our climate threaten to disrupt communities, natural spaces, the economy, and industries across Canada.

While climate change is a challenge we all face, there are solutions we can work towards. We recognize the need for action to collectively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, which will contribute towards positive environmental change.

Learn more about RBC’s climate commitments

Savings & Investments

Investing in the future

Make progress towards your financial goals and feel confident in how your investments impact people and the planet.

What is ESG investing?

What is ESG investing?

ESG investing involves investments that meet environmental, social, and governance standards, which is one way you can help ensure your values are aligned with your financial goals.

  • plant icon

    Environmental — Includes a company’s actions around climate change, carbon emissions, air and water pollution, biodiversity and natural resource management.

  • users icon

    Social — Considers a company’s relationships with its employees, customers and communities.

  • building bank icon

    Governance — Considers how a company is governed: the company’s board structure and independence, executive compensation, shareholder rights, any lobbying activities and political contributions, and overall tax strategy and accounting standards.

What Investors Need to Know About Net Zero

Find out what net zero really means and how it can impact your personal investments.

Understanding ESG Investing: 9 Terms to Know

The numbers are in: 79 per cent of Canadians are considering investing in companies that are committed to ESG values.

Invest with greater purpose

Invest with greater purpose

Discover investing options with RBC.

Learn more about ESG investing

Travel & Commuting

Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of each mile

From the daily commute to a well-earned vacation, travel is a necessary part of our everyday lives. Find helpful advice to reduce the environmental impact of the trips you make, and guides to electric vehicle ownership.

Transport makes up around 1/3 of the average Canadian's carbon footprint

It accounts for 24% of total national emissions.

Transport makes up around 1/3 of the average Canadian's carbon footprint

It accounts for 24% of total national emissions.

Everything you need to know about owning an electric vehicle

Everything you need to know about owning an electric vehicle

We’re here to help answer any questions you might have about buying and owning an EV.

Learn more about EVs

The 2024 Guide to Buying an Electric Bike

Now’s a great time to buy an electric bike. The quality of available models is only going up, and they’re a great choice for the environment.

The RBC Electric Car Cost calculator helps you calculate the cost to buy and own an EV in Canada

Electric car cost calculator

Calculate the cost to buy and own an EV, and find out how much money you could save.

Calculate now

Home

Energy-efficient home improvements

Making your home more energy-efficient doesn’t only benefit the environment — it can help save on energy bills, too. There are many ways to improve your household energy use, whether you rent or own your home.

Energy use in the average Canadian home

+

Around 65% of energy is used to heat and cool our homes

-

Tip:
Keep your home temperate by setting your thermostat to around 20°C during the day, and 16°C at night

+

Appliances, like fridges and dishwashers, use approx. 14% of household energy

-

Tip:
When it’s time, consider installing ENERGY STAR-certified appliances to use energy more efficiently

+

Heating water uses 17% of our home energy

-

Tip:
Your water heater can be reduced to 49°C and still produce enough hot water for your household needs

+

Just over 3% of our home’s energy is spent on lighting

-

Tip:
An LED or ENERGY STAR light bulb uses 90% less energy than a standard bulb, lasts 15x longer, and saves ~$55 in electricity costs in its lifetime

What is a Green Home and How Does it Reduce Emissions?

The energy we use at home doesn’t just impact on our utility bills: It may also negatively impact the environment.

A Renter’s Guide to Making Your Home More Energy-Efficient

As a renter there are still many affordable, achievable changes you can make to use less energy.

Your guide to saving energy at home

Learn how to make your home more energy-efficient and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Learn About Home Energy-Efficiency

A change you can make today

Switch to electronic statements and documents

Save paper and get your statements through RBC Online Banking and the RBC Mobile app.

Switch now

Our climate commitments

RBC’s climate strategy in action

The RBC Climate Blueprint opens in a new window explains how we are working to help accelerate the transition to a greener economy.

Read more about RBC’s climate strategy

Triple lending to renewable energy

RBC has a goal to triple lending to renewable energy across RBC Capital Markets and Commercial Banking, and to grow overall low-carbon energy lending to $35 billion by 2030.1

Read the RBC Climate Report 2023

Reduce the impact of our own operations

In 2023, we sourced 100 percent of our total global electricity consumption from renewable energy sources.2

$100 million in funding for RBC Tech for Nature

RBC and RBC Foundation have committed $100 million by 2025 to the RBC Tech for Nature™ program, which supports community organizations develop cleantech, agriculture, energy, and nature-based solutions.

Learn more about RBC Tech for Nature™

Navigating Canada’s journey to net-zero

The RBC Climate Action Institute brings together economists, policy analysts, and business strategists to help research and advance ideas that can contribute to Canada’s climate progress.

Visit the Climate Action Institute

The RBC Climate Library

Environmental ideas for the planet and your wallet

Read more (Opens in new window)

The information included on this website is not required to be prepared or filed by Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”) under Canadian or U.S. securities laws. While the information provided in this website may be relevant and of interest to our stakeholders, it should not be read as a determination of materiality for disclosure required in our securities law filings. This website may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, which are subject to RBC’s caution regarding forward-looking statements. For further details, refer to the “Caution regarding forward-looking statements” section in RBC’s most recent Annual Report, which can be found on RBC’s website: https://www.rbc.com/investor-relations/, and RBC’s most recent Climate Report, which can be found on RBC’s website: https://www.rbc.com/community-social-impact/reporting-performance/index.html. Except as required by law, none of RBC nor its affiliates undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf.

The information contained in this website is provided for illustrative and general information purposes only, and is not intended to provide specific financial or other advice, and should not be relied upon in that regard. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. We do not guarantee their accuracy and they should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC or any of its affiliates. Nothing in this website shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract, commitment or investment decision whatsoever. The reader is solely liable for any use of the information contained in this website, and neither RBC nor any of its affiliates nor any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be held responsible for any direct or indirect damages arising from the use of this website by the reader.

Climate metrics, data and other information contained in this website are or may be based on assumptions, estimates and judgements. Many of the assumptions, estimates, standards, methodologies, scenarios, metrics and measurements used in materials available on this website continue to evolve and may differ significantly from those used by other companies and those that may be used by us in the future, including as a result of legislative and regulatory changes, market developments and/or changes in data changes and reliability. For further information, including on the assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting climate metrics and data, refer to the “Important notice regarding this Report” section in RBC’s most recent Climate Report, which can be found on RBC’s website: https://www.rbc.com/community-social-impact/reporting-performance/index.html

The content of any websites referred to in this website, including via website link, and any other websites they refer to are not incorporated by reference in, and do not form part of, this website.
Our low-carbon energy lending goal and exposures are measured on an authorized lending basis, to reflect our total lending commitment. Low-carbon energy activities include the construction, development, operation, acquisition, maintenance and connection of: renewable energy sources (e.g., solar, wind), other low-carbon energy sources (e.g., nuclear and hydrogen) as well as electricity transmission and distribution systems, energy storage devices (e.g. batteries) and efficiency improvements (e.g. smart grids). For details on the eligibility criteria refer to our Sustainable Finance Framework. For power generation clients in Capital Markets that have more than one energy source, authorized lending exposure is allocated on a pro-rata basis as a share of generation type based on revenue or an available proxy.
RBC procures renewable electricity through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and other sources of renewable energy certificates (RECs).