TORONTO, Sept. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - TD Bank Group (TD) has earned a spot on the 2013 Performance Leadership Index, an annual ranking by the London-based CDP, which evaluates company action to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the risks of climate change. The achievement was announced today in the CDP Global 500 Climate Change Report 2013. TD is the only Canadian bank to be included in the 2013 global index.

"Natural resource scarcity is increasing, the scientific case for action to mitigate climate change is strengthening and the number of investors requesting corporate action on climate change through CDP is continually increasing," says Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer of CDP.  "We congratulate companies in the Climate Performance Leadership Index for their pioneering efforts to combat climate change and grow low carbon economies at this critical time."

This annual index, compiled by PwC on behalf of CDP, highlights the companies listed on the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (Global 500) that demonstrate strategies committed to improving their environmental footprint.

"External validation and benchmarking are crucial for organizations like TD that strive for excellence in environmental disclosure and performance, so we're very proud to be recognized globally by the CDP," says Karen Clarke-Whistler, Chief Environment Officer, TD Bank Group. "As TD's carbon neutral journey continues, this recognition inspires and motivates us to be even more ambitious in the years ahead."

The first North American-based bank to be carbon neutral, TD has a current goal to reduce its carbon footprint by one tonne per employee by 2015 relative to its 2008 baseline.

"We've made carbon reduction a driver of how we design facilities and operate our business across North America," says Roger Johnston, Senior Vice President of Enterprise Real Estate, TD Bank Group. "Our focus on green building design and renewable energy use are transforming the way we do business for our employees, our customers and the communities around us."

The Global 500 report, including names of companies featured in the Carbon Performance Leadership Index, can be found at www.cdp.net.

About TD Bank Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively known as TD Bank Group (TD). TD is the sixth largest bank in North America by branches and serves approximately 22 million customers in four key businesses operating in a number of locations in financial centres around the globe: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada Trust and TD Auto Finance Canada; Wealth and Insurance, including TD Wealth, TD Direct Investing, an investment in TD Ameritrade, and TD Insurance; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, and TD Auto Finance U.S.; and Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD also ranks among the world's leading online financial services firms, with approximately 8 million active online and mobile customers. TD had CDN$835 billion in assets on July 31, 2013.The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades under the symbol "TD" on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges.

About CDP
CDP is an international, not-for-profit organization providing the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information. CDP works with market forces, including 722 institutional investors with assets of US$87 trillion, to motivate companies to disclose their impacts on the environment and natural resources and take action to reduce them. CDP now holds the largest collection globally of primary climate change, water and forest risk commodities information and puts these insights at the heart of strategic business, investment and policy decisions. Please visit www.cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.

SOURCE TD Bank Group