Climate change

The Rainforest Action Network says the 2020 decline stemmed more from weak energy demand during the pandemic than banks’ pledge to reduce financing to firms that contribute to climate change.

Top officials at the U.S. central bank and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reaffirmed their commitment to understand how extreme weather events affect financial institutions and the economy as a whole. Many Republicans, however, worry the Federal Reserve’s new climate focus strays too far from its traditional function.

The Treasury Department and U.S. regulators aim to boost demand for assets that tackle climate change, while preventing companies from making claims that could be considered “greenwashing,” or overstating the significance of emissions reductions and sustainability efforts.

Democrats want regulators to actively protect the financial system from losses tied to extreme weather events, while Republicans say climate policy is "beyond the scope" of their mission.

The Cleveland company is more than doubling an earlier commitment in order to support racial equity and environmental sustainability.

The bank also committed to finance $500 billion in sustainable businesses and projects by 2030.

MUFG Union Bank is offering a new deposit product to commercial clients who want to see their cash reserves used to help finance sustainable projects, such as renewable energy or green transportation.

Aspiration makes donations to a tree-planting charity based on debit card spending, buys carbon offsets for gas purchases and rates retailers' environmental records.

Citigroup is one of the world's largest lenders to the fossil fuel industry, but CEO Jane Fraser vowed on Monday that the bank would achieve net-zero greenhouse-gas emissions in its financing activities by 2050.

Going green takes time, so lenders need to start revamping entire business relationships now, according to one sustainability-focused nonprofit. That process could include setting environmental goals for fossil-fuels companies and other customers that are conditions for continuing to finance them.

Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard said "scenario analysis" is distinct from traditional regulatory tools to assess capital strength, but can measure the long-term impact of weather events and the transition to a greener economy.

Transportation and clean-energy upgrades could create significant new lending opportunities, but some observers fear the government will foot the bill through a special tax on banks and other financial firms.

Ken LaRoe, whose First Green Bancorp was sold a few years ago, is seeking approval for a de novo called Climate First Bank that would cater to low-income communities hurt by climate change and favor ecology-minded tech vendors.

Regulators are right to encourage environmentally responsible lending, but with the transition to a low-carbon economy likely to take decades, they can’t allow banks to cut off lending to polluting firms cold turkey — especially to those making good-faith efforts to lower emissions.

In a request for information, the agency sought feedback on how it should prioritize climate risks as part of its supervision of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks.

Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio signaled a change in direction for the Banking Committee under Democratic control, on the same day he called for President Trump's ouster after the U.S. Capitol riot.

Speaking at a virtual event hosted by the Center for American Progress, Federal Reserve Gov. Lael Brainard said the agency is also seeking feedback on how the Community Reinvestment Act could be used to encourage lenders to invest in climate resiliency.

Raymond, the former Exxon Mobil boss who has been on the bank's board for more than three decades, notified JPMorgan Chase of his intention to resign effective Dec. 31, according to a regulatory filing.

Citigroup found that the rapid enactment of a carbon tax would likely lead to a significant increase in losses on loans the bank has made to certain oil and gas companies.