ESG-Linked Loans Are Set to Blast Off in Canada, CIBC Says

  • Regulators and banks move toward raising the product’s appeal
  • Canadian energy firms a good fit for borrowing via those loans

The Carbon Engineering Ltd. pilot facility stands in Squamish, British Columbia, Canada, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019. 

Photographer: James MacDonald/Bloomberg
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Sustainability-linked loans, a type of financing subject to a borrower’s compliance with environmental or socially responsible standards, is set for a boost in Canada as the government and companies move aggressively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“You’ll see support for this product in virtually every sector going forward,” said Eric Metivier, a managing director and head of corporate banking for Canada at CIBC. “This is the beginning of the story for sustainability-linked lending in Canada.”