Learning to be Green
BMO has pledged $375,000 over the next three years to Evergreen, an organization that is at the forefront of Canada’s urban greening movement. Our support will go toward the establishment of six outdoor training institutes for teachers in Toronto, Halifax and Winnipeg. They will be used to enhance Evergreen’s Learning Grounds program, which encourages children to green their school grounds and develop the awareness and know-how to become stewards of the environment in their own communities.
At BMO, we believe in – and act upon – the principles of sustainable development. That means that we are committed to delivering economic growth while at the same time serving as stewards of the environment.
Carbon Disclosure Project
BMO is a signatory to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a coordinating secretariat for a coalition of the world’s largest institutional investors seeking disclosure on the business implications of climate change. In 2006, BMO was a member of the CDP Canada Report Advisory Group. In the CDP Report, BMO CEO Tony Comper noted, “This initiative clearly focuses and informs corporate Canada’s thinking on global climate change, one of the most unsettling prospects faced by modern humankind.”
United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)
The UNEP FI mission is to identify, promote and effect the adoption of best environmental and sustainability practices at all levels of financial institutions’ operations. BMO Financial Group is an active member of the UNEP FI North American Task Force (NATF).
Equator Principles
The Equator Principles were established in 2002 by the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group that promotes sustainable, private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve people’s lives. BMO continues to adhere to the Equator Principles, applying environmental and social criteria in the consideration of financing for projects with capital costs in excess of US$10 million.
Environmental Management System
In 2006, we launched an initiative to develop and implement a sustainable Environmental Management System (EMS) that will make environmental awareness and protection part of our day-to-day business. This system is designed to: assess the environmental impacts of our operations and activities; set targets for performance; and ensure organizational accountability.
Supporting a Sustainable Future
BMO is partnering with Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF), pledging $100,000 over the next three years to help the organization implement sustainable development education in schools across Canada. LSF was founded in 1991, and its mission is to increase awareness about sustainable development practices among young people. The organization has provided support to more than 15,000 teachers and 200,000 students across Canada.
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