Top global banks still lend billions to extract fossil fuels

Analysis of world's lenders reveals many claim green credentials while still financing fuels like tar sands, oil and coal

Some of the world's top banks are continuing to lend tens of billions for extracting the most carbon-intensive fossil fuels, according to a report of top lenders.

Finance provided for these fossil fuels - tar sands and other unconventional oil and gas, as well as coal and liquefied natural gas - amounted to $87bn for the top 37 banks in 2016. That represented a slump of more than a fifth compared with the $111bn raised the previous year, and was also down on 2014's total of $92bn.