Climate Change Centre of Excellence
We believe climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time. This challenge requires global mobilization, collaboration and understanding.
The Scotiabank Climate Change Centre of Excellence aims to contribute to the global dialogue on climate change, building a better world for everyone, and for every future.
Our focus areas

Collaboration and Partnerships
Working with multiple stakeholder groups to tackle system-wide change.

Information and Knowledge
Sharing information and knowledge through events, training sessions or conferences.

Resources and Publications
Resources and publications to showcase our thought leadership both internally and externally.
Scotiabank Net Zero Research Fund
As part of its continued efforts to combat climate change, Scotiabank has expanded its Net Zero Research Fund to $10 Million (CAD) to advance partnerships with leading think-tanks and academic institutions that are supporting key sectors in their efforts to decarbonize.
We are pleased to congratulate our 2022 Fund winners. Click here to check out the list of 2022 recipients. We will reopen submissions in the Spring of 2023. If you would like to be on the mailing list for next year, please reach out to netzeroresearchfund@scotiabank.com

Join the discussion

Sustainability Spotlight: Commercial Lighting Products plugs into net-zero economy
The B.C.-based lighting firm helps organizations such as property owners, landlords and tenants harness energy-efficient technology to cut energy costs.

How Friendlier takeout containers can help cut down on plastic waste.
With Canada’s new ban on some single-use plastics, Scotiabank is implementing a pilot project for reusable takeout containers at its downtown headquarters.

CarbonCure’s concrete solutions make headway in cutting CO2 emissions.
The Halifax-based firm’s award-winning technology is set to help the cement and concrete industry cut carbon emissions by 500 million tonnes a year by 2030.

ESG Talks: Climate Edition – ESG with Purpose.
Delivering both profit and purpose is key in to successful business. Meigan Terry, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications and Social Impact Officer at Scotiabank, sat down with Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance at London Business School and Academic Director of the Centre for Corporate Governance, to discuss his book, “Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit.” We invite you to listen to the interview where Professor Edmans speaks about building ESG strategies with purpose, and how business and the financial industry can benefit society while satisfying the demands of shareholders.

ESG Talks: Climate Edition – Carbon Markets 101.
Carbon markets are a key tool for businesses to mitigate climate change, as businesses that run climate mitigation projects will be able to sell the emissions reductions to businesses, or even countries, that cannot cost effectively reduce their own emissions. Gain insights into these latest developments and trends in carbon markets from guest speaker Lisa DeMarco, ranked by Chambers Global and Chambers Canada as one of the world’s leading climate change lawyers.

ESG Talks: Climate Edition – Getting to Net Zero in the Oil Sands.
Earlier this year, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published a landmark report that said: “The world has a viable pathway to building a global energy sector with net-zero emissions in 2050, but it is narrow and requires an unprecedented transformation of how energy is produced, transported and used globally”. Scotiabank leaders will have the opportunity to hear directly from leading Canadian energy companies - and ask questions about - how the Canadian oil sands sector is transforming.

ESG Talks: Climate Edition – Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage.
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) has emerged as a critical technology for the world to meet its net zero carbon dioxide emission goals. Listen to our inaugural discussion on CCUS, featuring University of Calgary professors Dr. Don Lawton and Dr. Steven Bryant.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 8: Taking on the Climate Crisis with a Renewed Energy.
If we want to make a significant dent in the reduction of global warming a sharp pivot towards renewed energy sources is mandatory. President and CEO of The Canadian Renewable Energy Association-Robert Hornung, Chief Commercial Officer of Loop Energy-George Rubin and President and Chief Executive Officer of TransAlta-John Kousinioris get down to the gigawatts of it all.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 7: Renewable Energy from Food? That’s Rubbish!
How can we help farmers to reduce and producers to build resilience? General Manager at Truly Green Farms, Greg Devries shares some groundbreaking carbon neutral farming practises. Lenore Newman gets excited about the future of food and Evan Fraser, Director of the Arrell Food Institute, has some suggestions for policy makers.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 6: If It Doesn’t Have Green Purpose, It Won’t Make Cents.
Climate Strategist-Kevin Quinlan, Director of Research at The Institute of Sustainable Finance-Ryan Riordan and Scotiabank’s own Head of ESG Research-Patrick Bryden join us to show how Canada is poised become an economic influencer by accelerating innovation while mobilizing and securing a sustainable economic future.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 5: Closing the Loop on Ecosystem Conservation.
The energy feeding our lives has been stretched to its limit. How can we close the loop, maintain resilience and inform government? Jay Famiglietti, Executive Director and Professor of the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan; Gillian Chow-Fraser the Boreal Forest Manager at CPAWS Northern Alberta; and conservation scientist Brett Favaro talk ecosystem conservation.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 4: Talks About Carbon Reduction? It's All Hot Air Unless You Remove It.
Founder and CEO of Carbon Cure, Robert Niven, takes us through carbon capture, sequestration and some innovative technology that will give us the push we need. While, Scotiabank’s Vice President of Social Impact & Sustainability, Sandra Odendahl, will take us through carbon management, and give strategies and policy suggestions that can give us a global advantage.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 3: If you build it green, they will come.
Zahra Ebrahim explains why participatory design might reveal innovations we’ve not yet thought about. Fin Macdonald gives us a sneak peek at renewable strategy in the building sector and Leslie Woo looks at the built environment through a new lens.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 2: Transportation and it’s Most Important Passenger: Clean Energy.
With transportation being one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, we need to put our foot on the gas when headed to a cleaner mobile future. From electric vehicles to hyperloop transportation, experts discuss our transition future.

The Edge of Energy Ep. 1: What exactly is the energy transition and why is it important?
Scotiabank’s Chief Economist JF Perrault and Merran Smith, Founder and Executive Director of Clean Energy Canada discuss Canada’s energy transition.

Pandemic ushers in wave of demand for COVID-related bonds
Demand for social, green bonds 'not a fad' say co-leads of new Scotiabank Sustainable Finance Group.

Scotiabank commits $1.25 million to the Institute of Sustainable Finance
This partnership is part of the Bank’s commitment to advancing sustainable finance in Canada and contributing to the global conversation on climate change.

Canada’s transition angle to the Great Taxonomy Debate
Scotiabank's Director of Sustainable Finance Jason Taylor writes that the framework being designed would encourage sectors to angle toward a low-carbon economy.
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