GC Sharon Haward-Laird supports 'leading sustainability practices'
BMO has been named as the most sustainable bank in North America for the fourth year in a row in Corporate Knights' 2023 Ranking of the World's 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. BMO – the eighth-ranked bank in the world and in the top 15 per cent of banks globally for sustainable revenue, received high marks for diversity on its board and among its leadership.
"At BMO, our purpose, to boldly grow the good in business and life, informs our strategy and drives our commitments to progress for a thriving economy, a sustainable future and an inclusive society," said Sharon Haward-Laird, general counsel at BMO and executive committee sponsor for sustainability. "It's a true honour to be globally recognized for the leading sustainability practices that help us deliver on our purpose."
BMO’s offerings and programs that are supporting progress for a more just and sustainable economy, include:
- Deployed $5 billion over five years to address key barriers faced by minority businesses, communities and families in the United States
- Supporting women business owners in Canada with a $5 billion commitment
- Acting as a joint-lead manager for the Government of Canada's inaugural Green Bond transaction
- Being the first financial institution in the world to implement the Mastercard True Name feature, enabling people to use their true first name on their personal debit and ATM cards without the requirement of a legal name change
In 2021, BMO announced its Climate Ambition to be a lead partner in the transition to a net zero world, and launched the BMO Climate Institute. This Climate Ambition built on a previous commitment to mobilize $300 billion in sustainable lending and underwriting to companies pursuing sustainable outcomes by 2025. BMO also established a dedicated energy transition group, ‘to support clients' pursuit of opportunities driven by the increasing momentum of the global economy's shift in production and consumption of energy’.
