Net zero means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the lowest extent and then remove any ongoing emissions.

Net zero banking is a practice where banks align lending and investment activities with the goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions. This effort is meant to reduce emissions, mitigate the impacts of climate change, and build climate-resilient communities through strategic financing and advocacy efforts by the bank and its partners.

Net Zero Deposits direct deposits to projects that reduce or avoid carbon emissions. Your Sunrise Banks account will help mitigate the impacts of climate change and drive the transition to a net zero economy. Customers can choose to designate a savings account, checking account, or a certificate of deposit to Net Zero Deposits.

According to Project Drawdown, big banks in the U.S. lend as much as 30% of their portfolio to carbon-intensive sectors driving climate change.  Most people don’t know what their bank account is funding or that it may be a significant source of carbon emissions. With Net Zero Deposits, you’ll know what is behind your bank account and how it is actively helping to reduce or avoid carbon emissions.

Reaching net zero emissions globally by 2050 has been identified as the way to limit the global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius, and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. This goal was set by the Paris Climate Agreement and was signed by 192 countries plus the European Union in 2016. Since then, cities, universities, non-profits, Fortune 500 companies, B-Corporations, and small businesses have made similar commitments to reach net zero by 2050 or sooner.

Participation is limited. Currently, depositors may elect to allocate up to $250,000 of their available balance to the fund. Complete the form for more information, and a member of the Sunrise Banks team will be in touch.

Net zero projects include energy reduction and efficiency upgrades, renewable energy such as solar panels or geothermal, green buildings that meet standards such as Passive House, and clean transportation such as hybrid or electric vehicles.

Most people don’t know what their bank account is funding or that it may be a significant source of carbon emissions. Big banks in the U.S. lend as much as 30% of their portfolio to carbon-intensive sectors driving climate change. With Net Zero Deposits, you will have peace of mind about what your bank account is funding, and that it is actively helping to reduce or avoid carbon emissions.  Join the movement to reduce carbon emissions and build a climate-resilient community.

By designating your deposits to Net Zero Deposits, you are eliminating the potential for hidden emissions behind your bank account and actively reducing your reported emissions in this category. In fact, you are taking an additional step to ensuring that your bank account is driving the transition to a net zero economy.

Participating in the Net Zero Deposit Fund demonstrates a comprehensive approach to reducing your organization’s emissions under the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, which supplies the world’s most widely used greenhouse gas accounting standards. If you want to dive into learning about how disclosed emissions are calculated for organizations, check out this chapter from the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Sunrise Banks provides Net Zero Financing Off Site Link for projects that can reduce the operational emissions of an organization’s buildings, vehicle fleets, or other assets. With a net zero loan, your organization can shrink its carbon footprint and reduce its energy usage, leading to long-term cost savings. Net zero loans include C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) loans which can be used for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects, green buildings that meet international standards, or clean transportation solutions such as electric and hybrid vehicles.

By directing more funds to net zero projects, Sunrise Banks will be making progress on our commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. This is because a bank has a unique carbon footprint. We must account for both our operational emissions and our financed emissions. Operational emissions are generated by operational activities such as the heating and cooling of our buildings, business travel, and vehicle fleets. Financed emissions are associated with our loan portfolio and are generated by the loans that we finance for our customers. Therefore, by increasing our net zero loans, we reduce our financed emissions, and in doing so, our customers reduce their operational emissions.