RBC’s participation in the 2010 Olympic Torch Relay,
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be
carbon neutral
TORONTO, November 3, 2009— As part of Royal Bank of
Canada's (RBC) continuing commitment to environmental responsibility,
RBC has announced their participation in the 2010 Olympic
Torch Relay, Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games will be carbon neutral.
"We are proud to be a co-presenting sponsor of the 2010
Olympic Torch Relay and we believe it is our responsibility
to ensure our participation in the torch relay and 2010 Winter
Games is carbon neutral," said Sandra Odendahl, RBC Director
of Corporate Environmental Affairs.
Carbon dioxide emissions associated with RBC vehicles, air
and rail travel, hotel accommodations, hospitality events,
temporary branches and other 2010 Winter Games related logistics
will be neutralized through the purchase and retirement of
carbon offsets. To meet this commitment, RBC plans to purchase
Gold Standard certified emission reductions (CERs) recognized
under the Kyoto Protocol and carbon offsets derived from British
Columbia based clean technology projects through the 2010
Legacy Portfolio.
RBC has partnered with Offsetters, the Official Carbon Offset
Supplier to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games, to facilitate the purchase and retirement of the British
Columbia based clean technology offsets. Offsetters, with
the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and
Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) and partners like RBC, is
creating Olympic Games history with a goal to offset the total
carbon footprint for the 2010 Winter Games, from beginning
to end.
RBC will use its in-house emissions trading group within
RBC Capital Markets to purchase and retire the Gold Standard
CERs.
RBC is proud of its long track record of caring for the environment,
and the awards and recognition received for its commitment
to environmental responsibility. In 2009, RBC was named one
of the world's top 100 sustainable companies, one of Canada's
Greenest Employers, one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers,
one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations
and one of the Best Workplaces in Canada. RBC is also listed
on the Jantzi Social Index, FTSE4Good Index and was named
to the Carbon Disclosure Project Canadian Leadership Index.
About RBC and the Olympic Games
As Canada's longest-standing supporter of the Canadian Olympic
Team since 1947, RBC is a Premier National Partner of the
Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and proud
to bring the Olympic Spirit to communities across Canada as
Presenting Partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay.
About Offsetters
Offsetters is Canada's first integrated carbon management
company. Since 2005, Offsetters has been helping individuals
and organizations understand, reduce, track, and offset their
greenhouse gas emissions. Offsetters uses carbon offset funds
to develop and invest in high-quality, renewable energy and
energy efficiency projects that would otherwise not take place.
For more information visit www.offsetters.ca
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