Indian climatologist Veerabhadran Ramanathan decided to study climate change when he realized the full extent of how human activity was altering the composition of our air. It was in the mid-1970s and he had just discovered that carbon dioxide is not the only atmospheric greenhouse gas: there are others called “trace” gases less abundant than CO2 but capable of trapping a thousand times more heat, and their atmospheric concentration is likewise on the rise.

The national winner of the 7th Valores de Futuro (BBVA’s financial education program for elementary school students) has been announced: the 6th grade class at CEIP Guillermo Romero de Córdoba. As it happened with many of the submissions this year, the winning project shows marked solidarity, ability to engage and mobilize and innovation.

With the aim of reinforcing financial inclusion and the fight against poverty, Financiera Confianza – an entity of BBVA Microfinance Foundation – was formed in Peru. The results so far are very significant and most of its success derives from its clear mission: to promote the sustainable development of the most disadvantaged groups through responsible and productive finance. In other words, in keeping with BBVA's purpose, Confianza seeks to place the opportunities of this new era within reach of everyone.

Today, May 30, the fifth edition of ‘Territorios Solidarios’ (Solidarity Territories) gets underway, a BBVA community service initiative in which current, retired and pre-retiree employees get to promote their favorite charitable causes throughout Spain.

Investors, customers and society in general are demanding increasingly higher levels of transparency. There is also regulation accompanying these new demands, as illustrated by the EU directives on non-financial information that will become applicable in 2017.

The head of Country Networks at BBVA, Vicente Rodero, underscored the bank’s excellent position to face the challenges European and Spanish banks have before them.

“Our geographic diversity, universal, customer-centric banking model, our focus on risk management and the development of new digital functionalities are key elements of our strategy. We aim to lead the transformation of banks in all the regions where we have a presence,” Vicente Rodero explained at an event organized by APD (Asociación para el Progreso de la Dirección) this morning in Bilbao.

The Urgent Spanish Foundation (Fundéu BBVA) has launched an application for mobile devices containing 300 tips for writing about economic and financial topics. Its aim is to help people who work in the sector and specialist journalists to use the correct language and convey information clearly and accurately.

A Mexican app called Aire offers real-time information on air quality, ultraviolet radiation and meteorological conditions.

BBVA does not only generate impact through its business activities. In 2015, BBVA dedicated 103.6 million euros to social initiatives. Education is a strategic priority in the Group’s social programs, and follows two lines of action: financial literacy for business, and education for social integration and training in values. It also runs initiatives to support entrepreneurship and culture, among other areas, which are described in detail in its annual report.

BBVA has spent years developing its Corporate Responsibility initiatives through a variety of different programs such as higher education and vocational training scholarships; entrepreneurial programs and personal finance literacy for high school students, businesswomen, and the general public; and an ambitious program to give backpacks to girls and boys throughout the country.