Bank of Montreal | Decarbonization at Bank of Montreal

Status
Withdrawn
AGM date
Previous AGM date
Resolution details
Company ticker
BMO:CN
Resolution ask
Set targets or plans
ESG theme
  • Environment
ESG sub-theme
  • Fossil fuel financing
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Financials
Company HQ country
Canada
Resolved clause
It is proposed that the Bank adopt a plan to substantially reduce its financing of fossil-fuel and polluting industries by setting ambitious intermediate targets, with determined timelines, to achieve carbon neutrality.
Supporting statement
Banks are at the heart of our economy. The investment and financing choices they make shape the model of our society. By providing financial support to companies or projects, banks are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC are among the top 25 backers of the fossil-fuel industry in the world. Since the Paris Agreement, these five banks have continued to support the development of polluting companies. The government for its part is committed to “reducing greenhouse gas emissions [...] by 40% to 45% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels”. To achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, some actors suggest adopting short-term intermediate targets that are higher at the beginning than at the end, i.e. up to 25% for 2025 and 50% for 2050, or even higher. The International Energy Agency (IEA) even calls for “no more investment in fossil fuels”. In all cases, it is important to set targets based on science. For this purpose, standards exist, including particularly, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). Canada is responsible for 2% of global emissions (with less than 0.5% of the population) and its oil and gas expansion is currently projected to use up to 16% of the global carbon budget. The IPCC sounded the alarm again recently, with Antonio Guterres declaring that greenhouse gases are “choking our planet.” A concrete climate change transition plan is urgently needed. It must be submitted to the shareholders in the most appropriate annual publication.

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