The UN Climate Change Conference, held at the UN's annual Conference of the Parties (COP), are international meetings that aim to negotiate and and agree the activities that need to be addressed by global climate policy. On the heels of the announcement in Paris of its participation in the UN’s Principles for Responsible Banking, BBVA also joins this global initiative for a sustainable future.

The Principles for Responsible Banking were presented in Paris on November 26. These principles are the result of a joint initiative comprising 28 financial institutions and the United Nations that aims to take on the climate change and sustainability challenges facing society today.

Under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), Garanti joined 27 other global banks at the presentation of the Principles for Responsible Banking in Paris. BBVA owns a 49.85% stake of Garanti - the only Turkish bank participating in this global initiative.

Garanti and Bahçeşehir University heighten their collaboration on the ‘Code the Future with Garanti’ project, an initiative that aims to better prepare children for the digital future. This year the project partners have kicked off a new phase that includes new contents as well as teacher training in seven cities across Turkey.

BBVA joins the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and will lit up its Corporate Headquarters to support all women that suffer gender-based violence.

Her Majesty Queen Letizia and BBVA’s Group Executive Chairman Francisco González presented the 10th edition of the Integra Awards at BBVA City (Madrid) this morning. These awards recognizes the accomplishments of organizations that develop workplace integration initiatives for people with disabilities and launch employment generating programs. The five organizations that received this year's awards are the Juan XXIII Roncalli Foundation, Ilunion Responsible Tourism, the National Confederation of Deaf People, Amimet, and the Mental Health Federation of Castile and León.

BBVA hosted the forum “Energy Transition Opportunities for the Spanish and European economies.” During the event José Manuel González-Páramo, stressed that "At BBVA we highly appreciate the proposed measures, not only the draft legislation on climate change, but those measures that have been taken by other countries (France, Poland, and Ireland) that give sustainable financing a boost by issuing green bonds."

Intrama, a Spanish consulting firm, presented "VariableD 2019" during FactorW, a diversity event held in Spain. "VariableD 2019" is the third edition of the annual report that the consultancy prepares to assess progress in diversity matters within Spanish businesses. BBVA is included in this year’s Top30 list of businesses that are working harder and better to improve on this area, through the development and implementation of inclusion policies. This recognition attests to the bank’s commitment to offer equal development opportunities to all its employees and find more efficient ways to solve its customers’ needs.

"Our vision of the world is marked by a sense of urgency, but also by a sense of opportunity. We need to re-imagine the role of banking in society. As banks we have to focus on a mission and creating a positive impact on people’s lives.” These are the words of BBVA’s Global Head of Responsible Business, Antoni Ballabriga, on a panel where he was joined by the European Commission Vice President, Vladis Dombrovskis, during the Sustainable Finance in Nordic-Baltic conference held in Helsinki.