Carbon markets are at the forefront of climate action and the mobilization of carbon credits and offsets are critical — where each carbon credit holds the promise of a greener future for the Great White North. Join us as we unravel the intricate dance of mobilizing these markets — exploring the interplay of trust, transparency, and tradability — wh…

This is our 7th season of Disruptors and we’re kicking it off with a bang! There is a tech wave surging and it was truly the summer of AI. People are both excited and worried about what it’ll mean for their communities, jobs, the economy, and the planet. And while these tech advances have immense potential, we need to think deeply about how they’ll…

This was the year artificial intelligence got its wings — especially generative AI — and the tech is soaring to new heights.Whether you’re excited or concerned, it’s clear that AI is one of the most disruptive forces in history.AI is transforming the world at record pace — but is Canada prepared?On the season finale, we visit the Creative Destructi…

AI and emerging technology are critical in reducing emissions and helping us better understand the ocean’s impact on climate.Canada is a leader in ocean research, and we continue to punch above our weight in the delivery of ocean innovation. But can innovative tech turn the tide in the climate crisis? On this episode, John Stackhouse visits Atlanti…

AI, automation, robots, and drones are all impacting the way we grow food — and it’s happening right here on Canadian soil.With a growing population, an affordability crisis, and increasing food insecurity, greenhouse innovation has a huge role to play in the agri-food sector.Can Canada emerge as a leader in a low-carbon global food system?To find …

It’s no secret that the last few years have been rough for tech, but the sector also has a unique ability to look beyond the clouds and see opportunity through innovation.And while there are challenges ahead, there is a renewed optimism that we may be entering a recovery stage — where a period of fiscal discipline and strategic focus can set compan…

Nuclear innovation is making a resurgence as an attractive power source for a net-zero future — from large legacy reactors to small modular reactors (SMRs). SMRs use compact and moveable nuclear technology, and if commercialized successfully, could bring new, non-emitting sources of electricity to big cities and remote communities alike, while prov…

New technology has rarely led to fewer jobs, though it often impacts the way we work — eliminating old ways of doing things to create new opportunities. To mitigate workforce disruption from the rise of AI and automation, we must invest in our people to enhance the value of expertise and enable valuable work. But how do we ensure that AI is constru…

Housing affordability has become a crisis in Canada, and we must prioritize innovative designs, building techniques, and technology to boost productivity and close the supply-demand gap.Prefabricated homebuilding promises faster, more cost-effective alternatives to traditional construction methods — and if scaled correctly, a solution to address ho…

Innovative technology continues to disrupt the service sector — where expertise is augmented by cutting-edge tools — in attempt to remove complexity and reimagine delivery. Cloud computing has transformed the legal profession and now AI stands to push that transformation even further — paving the way for a more inclusive and efficient legal system.…

The complexities of the climate transition require funding and access to capital that includes broader support nationwide — because without investment, there will be no transition.But it’s a bumpy year for innovators, with higher interest rates and consumer resistance. Our research also shows that while climate intentions are admirable, consumers a…

Innovative green technology is critical for driving environmental resilience and economic growth — though this tech is no stranger to obstacles.Cleantech faces challenges and persistent barriers and having a diverse ecosystem — including entrepreneurs and investors — that encourages innovation and provides access to capital is critical to scale and…

The climate transition is complex, not just for countries and economies, but for households and individuals.Across the country, Canadians are engaging more with climate action — though we’re still not doing enough to help ourselves and the warming planet. Canada’s climate capital needs to double to $60 billion in annual investments, and if this is …

The World Economic Forum (WEF) is known for its annual gathering of global leaders, policymakers, CEOs, and academics — convening to address the most pressing issues facing people and the planet.“Rebuilding Trust” was the theme this year, though the topic of the week was artificial intelligence — dominating the dialogue on the world stage and the a…

The green hydrogen race is on, and billions are at stake. Countries big and small view hydrogen as an opportunity to convert wind, solar, gas and nuclear into molecules that they can sustainably ship around the world. The hydrogen promise extends beyond reducing our carbon footprint and developing cleaner sources of energy; it’s also about reimagin…

2023 was a year of disruptive change, with the cost-of-living crisis, rising geopolitical tensions, the ongoing climate emergency and rapid technological transformation. Amid the murky backdrop of increasing challenges and negative outlooks, there is also hope and opportunity; a tech resurgence is brewing that’s expected to rise like a phoenix from…

Amid the backdrop of an increasingly polarized geopolitical landscape, growing socio-economicchallenges and intensifying climate conditions, the 2023 United Nations Climate ChangeConference (COP28) hosted its largest ever summit in Dubai with 100,000 attendees.Each COP provides a global stage for nations to collectively address urgent climate issue…

AI has created a dynamic landscape that presents risks and rewards for our nation, and this is Canada’s chance to reimagine its approach in a way that allows us to increase efficiency, remain competitive and enable economic growth. As a nation, we must leverage AI’s true transformative potential to foster an innovative workforce for the future — so…

Carbon markets are at the forefront of climate action and the mobilization of carbon credits and offsets are critical — where each carbon credit holds the promise of a greener future for the Great White North. Join us as we unravel the intricate dance of mobilizing these markets — exploring the interplay of trust, transparency, and tradability — wh…

The global race to apply AI to robotics in a way that can make society better is on — offering unprecedented efficiency, precision and enhancing productivity to relieve humans from mundane tasks. Though there are concerns regarding ethical dilemmas and potential job displacement — fueling fears about the societal impact of these advancements. Strik…

Climate change and housing affordability are on a collision course, and we're going to need to think differently about how we build our communities across the country. Buildings are critical to the climate transition, whether it’s our homes, offices, hospitals or schools, these structures all have a role to play in the journey to net zero and we ne…

Flying is at the centre of our culture and acts as an enabler for economic growth and development — connecting Canadians and facilitating integration into the global economy. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is shaking up the aviation industry with an alternative method to power existing aircrafts, with aims of decarbonization to achieve a more sust…

This is our 7th season of Disruptors and we’re kicking it off with a bang! There is a tech wave surging and it was truly the summer of AI. People are both excited and worried about what it’ll mean for their communities, jobs, the economy, and the planet. And while these tech advances have immense potential, we need to think deeply about how they’ll…

What an epic, even historic, summer it was.Heatwaves, wildfires, storms – it was like Mother Nature and Planet Earth were reminding us that no matter where we are, or what we do, the climate is profoundly changing. Now, as climate presents equal parts challenges and opportunities, we’ll need to accelerate climate action.Meanwhile, the explosion of …

It’s no secret that Canada’s labour market is facing significant challenges, but heading into another school year, there’s hope that a series of regulatory changes enacted by the Federal Government could help get more international students into the workforce. That’s why we’re highlighting an episode from the past season of Disruptors, an RBC Podca…

Summer bounties are hitting our dinner, picnic and BBQ tables, and farmers are busy gearing up for another fall harvest season. But have you ever considered how much of the food we produce in Canada never even makes it to your plate? Or how much goes into the green bin? This year on Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, we tackled the challenge of food waste…

As another wildfire season blankets Canada and the U.S. with smoke, air quality is worsening, and the summers are only getting hotter. Some of Canada’s most populous cities even topped the rankings when it comes to the worst air quality on the planet. That’s why we’re highlighting an important episode of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, focused on spend…

Few things have been more disruptive and hotly debated this year than AI as 2023 marked the potential tipping point in its mass adoption thanks to the public release of generative AI platforms like ChatGPT. From healthcare, to cybersecurity, to journalism and, now, Hollywood, AI is sending shockwaves through virtually every sector of our economy. S…

When it comes to the energy transition, we're going to need to literally rewire our economy. On the season finale of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, host John Stackhouse sits down with Olivier Desmarais, the CEO of Power Sustainable, one of Canada’s most significant and global enterprises. The firm is a sustainable investment manager that invests in co…

If Canada is going to transition to clean energy, we’ve got to involve and engage our Indigenous communities for economic development and reconciliation. On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, host John Stackhouse speaks to two leaders working to make a meaningful partnership happen: Annette Verschuren, CEO of NRStor and Matthew Jamieson, t…

It all starts with the envelope—a building’s envelope, that is, to create more sustainable, comfortable homes and offices. Then the power of innovative materials and software comes together to create Net Zero buildings. In Part 2 of a special two-part series of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, focused on greening Canada’s build sector, host John Stackho…

Canada is a nation of builders—but buildings are our third biggest source of greenhouse gases and release some 90 million tonnes of C02 annually. On Part 1 of a special two-part series of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, focused on greening Canada’s built sector, host John Stackhouse chats with three experts committed to decarbonizing our buildings. Tog…

Have you ever wondered what qualities make up a true innovator? How do they approach problems and create new solutions? Is it nature or nurture? On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, host John Stackhouse goes inside the minds of three Canadian innovators, all recipients of this year’s Governor General Innovation Awards: Gary Agnew, Co-foun…

The COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events and record e-commerce demand have shone a spotlight on the world’s supply chains. The journey of how we receive “stuff” is quite complicated—and fragile. Luckily, the power of technologies such as automation, renewable energy and data are helping to both streamline and “green” Canada’s supply chains. Go…

On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse is joined by a special guest co-host: Lindsay Patrick, Head of Strategic Initiatives & ESG at RBC Capital Markets, where she leads the Sustainable Finance Group. As the world marks Earth Day on April 22, John and Lindsay explore various questions on climate and call on a cross-sect…

Soil. We have a lot of it here in Canada, with the 12th largest agricultural land holding in the world. Our vast land presents a large opportunity to help combat climate change with sequestering carbon, as well as helping farmers’ bottom lines. Traditionally, agriculture has been all about yield: the more bushels, the better. But there’s a growing …

Cyber threats have been around as long as the Internet, but attacks have ramped up in the last few years, with the pandemic dramatically shifting more of our work—and our lives—online. Organizations also moved more of their operations to the cloud, creating a new potential liability. Recent high-profile security breaches have crippled some of Canad…

It’s no secret that 2023 hasn’t exactly started on a high note for the tech sector. With more than 100,000 workers laid off already this year, looking in from the outside, the industry seems to have lost some of its momentum. But what are insiders saying? In the short term, large scale layoffs may not be over, but they’re slowing. And a look back i…

Is the hustle to build a reliable, domestic supply of semiconductors the new space race? Semiconductors are small computer chips the size of a fingerprint that contain hundreds of millions, if not billions, of tiny transistors. And they’re essential for today’s electronics—from coffee machines to data centres that run the Internet. The world needs …

Imagine a mathematical problem so complex, it would take today’s most sophisticated supercomputer 9,000 years to solve. Now, imagine a new type of computer that could solve the very same problem in just a fraction of a second. That’s the promise of quantum computing—and it turns out, Canada is well on its way to becoming a global force in the resea…

After a three-year hiatus, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, came back with a vengeance, just as a fragmented world confronts a confluence of crises. The global meeting of government, business and community leaders—the first in three years—can’t quite be described as optimistic, among the 600+ CEOs, 200 cabinet minister…

As we begin a new year, we’re creeping ever closer to the point of no return in the fight against climate change. Sea levels are rising, the earth is warming, we’ve seen thawing permafrost and large scale die-offs in coral reefs, and parts of the Amazon are experiencing increased instances of drought and deforestation. Thankfully, the world is taki…

WTF: where’s the finance? It was a hot topic at COP27, the UN Climate Conference in Egypt in November, and it continues to be a source of debate at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is just wrapping up in Montreal. In 2011, 20 targets were set at the Convention on Biological Diversity. A stu…

AI was expected to revolutionize the way we do just about everything, but the changes that were promised haven’t materialized as quickly as expected. What’s holding AI back? On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse sits down with Ajay Agrawal to dig into this question and more. Ajay is a professor at the University of Tor…

Amidst a backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, rapidly rising inflation, ever-lingering COVID, and near constant political convulsions, this year’s COP27 took on an unprecedented weight. In this episode, let John Stackhouse walk you through the recently wrapped COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. With his special guest co-host Naomi Powell, Managi…

It’s an issue that’s estimated to cost Canada more than $21 billion per year -- nevermind the environmental impacts. But how much thought have you really given to the problem of food waste and spoilage, and how it could be hampering our country’s effort to reduce emissions? Whenever wasted or spoiled food ends up buried in a landfill instead of dec…

When people are asked to name the most innovative industries in North America, Canada’s beef and dairy sectors probably aren’t the first ones to come to mind. But it turns out the agrifood business in our country has been undergoing a rapid and dramatic evolution for a number of years now -- and it’s going to need to keep on innovating if it’s goin…

Extreme weather and geopolitical turmoil have placed the world’s food systems under tremendous stress. At the same time, climate change is slowing agricultural productivity among major producing nations, there’s a growing need for more food: globally, over 800 million people are food insecure — meaning that they don’t have access to enough safe and…

It may not be top of mind for most Canadians -- or the top issue in most public opinion polls -- but it’s one of the greatest challenges our world has ever faced; climate change. And did you know that 10% of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions can be traced back to the very food we eat? This fall on Disruptors, an RBC podcast, hosts John Stackhouse a…

Despite the economic storm clouds on the horizon, there is little doubt that Canada’s labour market is in desperate need of talent — and will be for many years to come. In this special LIVE episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse speaks with tech entrepreneur Martin Basiri about immigrant and employment — specifically, how Canad…