SDG

After seven years of giving a voice to more than 450 protagonists and having amassed a community of over 1 million followers, BBVA has celebrated these milestones by taking a further step forward in its education project for a greener and more inclusive future. The Palacio de la Prensa in Madrid recently hosted its first face-to-face event (open to everyone and with free entry) under the ‘Aprendemos juntos 2030’ (Learning Together 2030) international tour. The event was inaugurated by BBVA’s Chair, Carlos Torres Vila, who, together with prominent figures such as psychiatrist Marian Rojas Estapé, professor and writer Victor Küppers, and writer Daniel Habif, kicked off a series of events that will be held in Barcelona, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima and Montevideo throughout 2025.

BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila claimed “Education is a revolutionary force; it is the engine of opportunity and a foundation for equality” at a 'Aprendemos juntos 2030' (Learning Together 2030) event for a live audience, held today in Madrid. Carlos Torres Vila announced an international tour for this BBVA educational program, set to visit Barcelona, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima, and Montevideo in 2025.

New York Climate Week, held alongside the United Nations General Assembly during the last week of September, has confirmed its status as a key venue—second only to the COPs—for advancing the global sustainability agenda.

At the 2nd BBVA Mexico Sustainability Summit recently held in Mexico City, all the companies participating in the event were urged to press ahead with their energy transition processes. The participants agreed that banks are the key enablers in this process through the funding and expert advice they provide, allowing businesses to transition toward an emission-free economy that embraces all industries and segments of society.

The two institutions will provide finance to boost the country's foreign trade through an expansion of the facilities at Uruguay's premier port. The total outlay comes to $340 million.

It is the BBVA Group’s first ever blue bond, which are securities used to finance projects geared toward ocean sustainability and the Blue Economy.

BBVA has published its clients’ progress toward decarbonization in the initial version of its climate transition plan. The bank is one of the first in the world to apply the recommendations by the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) to define a transition plan. Emissions declined in all sectors with published decarbonization indicators. BBVA’s goal is to finance this emission reduction by its clients.

BBVA presents 'Reinicia tu mundo’ (‘Reboot your world’), a new initiative within our 'Aprendemos Juntos 2030' educational project with a focus on sustainability as the key to the 21st century and on schools as a driver to convey the importance of caring for the planet through responsible consumption, respecting others and adopting healthy habits. Our challenge provides teachers and families with free resources to help primary school children be the drivers of change for a better world.

BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila said at Davos that Europe must establish adequate mechanisms and incentives to promote investments for decarbonization.” In this regard, he added that “Europe cannot fall behind.” In his opinion, in order for decarbonization technologies to grow and be profitable, “we need a legislative, regulatory and supervisory framework that offers adequate incentives like what is already underway in countries like the U.S.”

Sustainability is a key strategic priority for BBVA, which views the energy transition as an opportunity to move forward and grow. For this reason, it supports its clients and offers advisory and financing services with the aim of contributing to the decarbonization of the economy and generating new business opportunities. Climate, natural capital and inclusive growth are the three pillars underpinning a strategy to build a brighter future starting now, with a new sustainable business mobilization target of €700 billion by 2029.

On April 21, 2021, 43 financial institutions from around the world formed the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA).   BBVA now celebrates its first anniversary as a founding member by leading progress in the financial sector toward a more sustainable world.

BBVA has reinforced its commitment to the environment by releasing its third report according to recommendations issued by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). In a TCFD report, companies showcase their environmental activities and provide information on risks and opportunities around climate change.

BBVA and its foundations will devote a total of €550 million during the 2021-2025 period to fund social initiatives aimed at fostering inclusive growth in the countries where they are present. “This is the most ambitious social plan that we have implemented to date,” said BBVA CEO Onur Genç.

Banking sector commitment to UN Principles of Responsible Banking gains firm and steady traction: two years after launch 240 institutions have already become signatories. We take a look at this project of United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) and the progress achieved since it launched two years ago.

BBVA is to channel €200 billion in sustainable funding through 2025, doubling the initial €100-billion target announced in February 2018. “We want to contribute to the global collective effort against climate change and promote inclusive growth, leaving no one behind. Two pillars that guide our pledge and purpose that is “To bring the age of opportunity to everyone”, said BBVA Chairman Carlos Torres Vila.

BBVA is the first Spanish bank to join 'Every Action Counts', a coalition promoted by the Green Digital Finance Alliance (GDFA). This coalition was created with the goal of engaging, through technological and digital initiatives, 1 billion citizens around the world to drive action and environmental awareness by 2025.

BBVA has published an update of its report on the risks and opportunities of climate change in accordance with the Task Force Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) standard, with data as of December 2020. This report reflects BBVA's progress in sustainability. Since its first publication in October 2020, it has already incorporated climate risk into the management of all the bank's businesses and its commitment to accompany customers towards a more sustainable future.

BBVA reinforces its commitment to reducing the risks of climate change and joins PCAF (Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials), an alliance that enables financial institutions to assess and disclose the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions  of loans and investments.

In 2020, BBVA allocated €79.1 million (55.6 percent of its total investment in social programs) to initiatives in support of education, knowledge and culture, benefiting 5.6 million people. In addition, over 2.2 million users accessed the content on education, science, culture and economics, which was provided by the bank through the digital platforms for its initiatives and programs. The BBVA Foundation and its activities also benefited 3.5 million people.

Global Finance recognized BBVA as the world’s best investment bank for sustainable finance at the latest edition of its awards ‘Best Investment Bank Awards 2021’. A global recognition that joins the bank’s other awards for the best equity bank in Western Europe and the best investment bank in Argentina, Spain and Turkey.

BBVA commits to reporting ESG metrics, as part of the Measuring Stakeholder Capitalism initiative, adopted by 61 member companies of the Davos World Economic Forum and a group of top executives who are part of its International Business Council (IBC).

The pandemic and the subsequent health protection measures have forced the bank to adapt the actions planned for its employees this Christmas. The traditional Christmas festivities have been replaced by global digital celebrations and a donation to three NGOs that provide support to the sectors of society that have suffered the most during the crisis.

“When you hear sustainability, you think: too big. When you feel like you should do something, you think: too complicated. Now think about who could help you make better decisions, and that's where we come in. So that what you save yourself, saves the planet. So that we can keep moving forward without leaving anyone behind. So when you hear sustainability you think: opportunities.´”

The BBVA Chairman kicked off MoneyFest, this year’s virtual edition of Money2020. In an interview with Spriha Srivastava, Executive Editor overseeing the London Newsroom of Business Insider, he shared his insights into the trends that the pandemic has accelerated, such as digitization and sustainability. Carlos Torres Vila considers that this crisis can be an “opportunity to reset our world.” In this sense, he noted that the “infusion of public funds must contribute to achieve a more digital, sustainable and inclusive society.”

Both organizations have announced a global collaboration agreement to promote equality among girls and young people with a focus on female role-models. "We are convinced that we can curb the impact of gender stereotypes in a simple and effective way, by teaching girls about successful women that can help them become aware of all the opportunities within their reach", said BBVA global head of Talent and Culture Carlos Casas.

BBVA illuminated the main building at its company headquarters in Madrid—La Vela—to mark the fifth anniversary of the launching of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BBVA opted for the color blue of the United Nations flag to commemorate the date on which 193 countries adopted the 2030 Agenda at UN headquarters in New York.

One year ago, 130 banks from around the world signed the banking industry’s most ambitious global agreement on sustainability to date: the Principles for Responsible Banking. A set of principles that commit signatory banks to align their action to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. On this first anniversary, BBVA - one of the 30 founding banks - has accelerated its commitment to sustainability, making it one of its strategic priorities in 2020.

Today, international banks BBVA, BNP Paribas, ING, Société Générale and Standard Chartered (also known as ‘the Katowice Banks’) published a report on the application of the PACTA methodology, designed to steer their credit portfolios towards the objective of the Paris Climate Agreement. This report aims at helping banking peers to quickly understand and apply this methodology and thus publish comparable results.

BBVA and Grupo Piñero agreed three sustainable bilateral financing deals on behalf of Levantur. These are the first sustainable bilateral loans to be guaranteed by Spain’s Official Institute of Credit (ICO). The Spanish tourist Group will use the financing for liquidity and working capital needs arising from the economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.