Quebec unveils North America's first Sustainable Finance Roadmap, Canada reinforces its support for ISSB sustainabillity disclosure standards, and leading organizations launch new initiatives to strengthen financial markets.
Montréal, June 5, 2026 – The 6th Sustainable Finance Summit concluded today in Montréal with a series of major announcements from governments, financial institutions, international organizations and market leaders.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, accelerating climate risks and growing pressure on economic competitiveness, discussions throughout the Summit pointed to a common conclusion: the next phase of sustainable finance will depend on the ability of institutions to equip markets with the frameworks, tools and mechanisms needed to allocate capital more effectively.
The announcements unveiled during the 2026 Sustainable Finance Summit illustrate how governments, financial institutions and market participants are beginning to put these conditions in place.
Providing a clear framework for Quebec's and Canada's transition
Among the Summit's key announcements, the Government of Quebec, represented by Stéphane Armanda, sous-ministre adjoint à l’expertise et aux politiques en milieu terrestre et du développement durable, unveiled its Sustainable Finance Roadmap – the first initiative of its kind in North America.
Developed in collaboration with Finance Montréal, Quebec’s financial cluster, the roadmap is structured around three strategic priorities: supporting the resilience and transition of Quebec's economy, strengthening sustainable finance skills and culture, and positioning Quebec as a leading public-sector actor in sustainable finance. Several of the roadmap's initiatives will be led by Finance Montréal in collaboration with stakeholders across Quebec's financial sector. Read the press release (in French only).
"The publication of this roadmap marks an important milestone for sustainable finance in Quebec. This initiative, a first in North America, sends a clear signal of Quebec's commitment to playing an active role in the evolution of financial markets and sustainable finance. It will enable us to mobilize key stakeholders, structure our priorities and accelerate the transition toward a more resilient, innovative and sustainable economy." – Eric Girard, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for Infrastructure.
The Government of Canada, represented by Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, announced a CAD $10 million investment over five years to support the continued operations of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in Montréal.
The funding, provided through Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and supported by a coalition of Canadian public and private institutions, will help strengthen Canada's role in advancing and promoting the adoption of international sustainability disclosure standards. Read the press release.
“As the global economy transitions to net-zero, clear and comparable climate information is more important than ever. This new investment in the International Sustainability Standards Board demonstrates our commitment to advancing globally aligned climate disclosures in Canada and abroad. The continued presence of the ISSB in Montréal solidifies Canada’s leadership in sustainable finance and highlights our strong ecosystem and successful track record of hosting leading international institutions.” – Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance and National Revenue.
The Canadian Taxonomy and Transition Planning Council announced the six priority sectors that will form the basis of Canada's sustainable finance taxonomy guidance and outlined the next steps in its development. These include the launch of a public consultation on the draft Methods and Framework Report on July 9. Read the briefing note.
"Once finalized, this report will serve as both the North star and bedrock of all work to come on Canada’s sustainable finance taxonomy," said Marlene Puffer, Council Chair. "It will guide the taxonomy's ambition and underpin key decisions about which activities in the Canadian economy will be labeled taxonomy aligned and under what conditions. It is, therefore, one of the most important and impactful documents the Council will approve, and the most essential for broad and diverse public feedback."
Accelerating capital deployment toward transition investments
The Summit also highlighted several initiatives and research efforts aimed at improving market decision-making and supporting the transition.
FinDev Canada announced a historic capital injection aimed at mitigating climate change and building more resilient economies. Following the Government of Canada's Spring Economic Update 2026, FinDev Canada will receive a CAD $2 billion capital injection as well as CAD $732 million in concessional capital, including CAD $60 million dedicated to technical assistance. See press release.
FinDev Canada also announced a USD $50 million investment in Banco ABC Brasil. Its loan proceeds will support small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly women-owned and women-led businesses, illustrating its approach to mobilizing capital where it can generate both economic returns and sustainable impact. See press release.
The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) released a new report analysing the performance of Canadian companies of the total 2,000 global companies it assesses on their impact on people and planet. According to the study, the 22 Canadian financial institutions assessed are three times more likely than their global peers to invest in climate solutions, positioning Canada among the leaders in the transition to a low-carbon economy. See press release.
The Institute for Sustainable Finance presented new research examining the role of climate disclosures in attracting international capital. The study examines how climate-reporting firms benefited from foreign investment shifts following the Liberation Day tariff shock. The report adds further evidence supporting the positive impact of disclosures on capital markets. Read the report.
S&P Global Sustainable1, now a part of S&P Global Energy Horizons, introduced Climate Valuation Impact (CVI) – designed to provide straightforward, bottom-up estimates of how different climate scenarios may affect investment valuations. More information here.
Mila – Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute highlighted its Mila x Finance Report 2026: The Age of Agents, Risk and Consumer Protection, which underscores the growing need for collaboration among researchers, industry leaders and regulators as AI becomes increasingly embedded in critical financial infrastructure. Read the article.
Montréal: A hub for sustainable finance leadership
Taken together, these announcements point to a broader trend: markets increasingly require stronger data, clearer frameworks and more sophisticated tools to improve risk assessment, decision-making and capital allocation.
"Six years after its launch, the Sustainable Finance Summit continues to bring together the leaders shaping public policy, financial markets and investment decisions. The Summit has helped establish Montréal as a leading hub where the conditions needed to finance the economic transition are being built for Quebec, Canada and North America." – Jacques Deforges, Chief Executive Officer, Finance Montréal.
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About the Sustainable Finance Summit
Organized by Finance Montréal, the Sustainable Finance Summit has established itself as the leading North American platform where financial institutions, public decision-makers, businesses and civil society bring together their expertise to advance the role of finance in transforming economic systems in response to today's ecological and social challenges. As an international forum for strategic dialogue, the Summit supports priority alignment, capital mobilization and the emergence of concrete solutions to accelerate the climate and social transition. The 2026 edition brought together more than 1,500 participants from around the world, featured 130 speakers and facilitated over 350 bilateral meetings.
Learn more: www.sustainablefinance-summit.com
About Finance Montréal
Founded in 2010, Finance Montréal — Quebec's financial cluster — plays a central role in developing and promoting the province's financial services industry, while strengthening its international positioning as a competitive, innovative and attractive business hub of global calibre. Finance Montréal is also active in fintech and innovation, sustainable finance and talent development.
Learn more: www.finance-montreal.com
Media inquiries (media only)
Gabriel Marquis
COPTICOM, Strategies and Public Relations
(581) 307-8613
gmarquis@copticom.ca
General information
Myriam Balian
Senior Director, Communications and Strategic Partnerships
Finance Montréal
myriam.balian@finance-montreal.com
