From Goldman Sachs to Morgan Stanley, the largest banks in the U.S. announced departures from an international climate group in recent weeks.

U.S. lenders have been rushing in recent weeks to leave one of the world's top banking sector climate coalitions, drawing scorn from campaigners who worry the industry is losing resolve to take action on fossil fuels.

This should surprise no one. And it shows the practical considerations that have always undergirded these sorts of moves.

Then nation's largest bank JPMorgan said Tuesday its leaving the Net Zero Banking Alliance, completing a mass exodus of Wall Street financial giants from the key climate group.

The overwhelming majority of scientists agree that climate change is caused by burning fossil fuels and other activities that emit greenhouse gases. When present in excessive quantities in the atmosphere,