What aren’t RBS telling us about their carbon emissions?

Jay OwenReforming Global Finance

 

What aren’t RBS telling us about their carbon emissions?

Today we published some new research that shows that theRoyal Bank of Scotland’s carbon emissions are much higher than they say they are – if you count the emissions from the loans they make to coal, oil and gas companies around the world.

Take our quiz and find out how much carbon RBS really emitted last year – and help us campaign for all big business to reveal how much carbon they really emit.

When RBS reported its carbon emissions last year, they looked at pretty much all the things you might expect from any big business. They looked at their carbon emissions from heating and lighting their offices and branches, running computers and from business travel by staff.

But what if RBS (and all the other UK-based banks, insurance companies and hedge funds) had to report the carbon emissions from their loans and investments too?

For example, what if RBS had reported the emissions resulting from the loans it made to Tullow Oil, a British company which specialises in oil exploration and production in Africa? Or to Pertamina Persero, an oil and gas company which has rigs and pipelines across Indonesia?

WDM looked at what difference it would make and we were amazed.

We think you’ll be amazed too.

Find out the true level of RBS’s emissions last year – take the quiz and join our campaign now.

Liz Murray
Head of Scottish campaigns  

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