World economic growth is causing energy consumption levels to skyrocket. According to forecasts, energy needs will expand by 30 percent between today and 2040. This new scenario calls for practices aimed at promoting the efficient use of energy. But, is society really aware of the importance of curbing energy consumption?

Olivier Guersent, the European Union’s Director-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and Capital Markets claims individual investors would rather put their money into sustainable development projects, but they need the right skills. Financial education is a part of this empowerment.

Last February, BBVA released its strategy to fight climate change and promote sustainable development, Pledge 2025. However, the bank’s commitment to green and social finance is not new. In fact, it is one of the most renowned institutions for its sustainable product capabilities.

Not long ago, in Colombia, nearly half the population lived in poverty. In rural areas, the overwhelming majority. Ten years ago, the BBVA Microfinance Foundation made a commitment to change this reality by creating the country’s first microfinance bank, Bancamía, in collaboration with two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – ‘Corporación Mundial de la Mujer Colombia’ and ‘Corporación Mundial de la Mujer Medellín’.

William D. Nordhaus, winner of BBVA’s Frontiers of Knowledge Award, and Paul M. Romer have been awarded the 2018 Nobel Prize for their research on how climate change and technological innovation impact the economy. Their findings substantiate the vital role financial education plays in overcoming the challenges of an ever-changing world.

A two degree limit on the rise of the earth’s temperature will not be enough to prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change. Extraordinary measures are therefore required to contain global warming, capping the increase to a maximum of 1.5 degrees before 2050. This is one of the main conclusions delivered by Peter Newman, professor of sustainability at Curtin University in Perth (Australia) during the opening session “Facing Climate Change” sponsored by BBVA and the Fundació Catalunya Europa.

More than 1,800 BBVA Compass employees — plus another 250 friends and family members — joined their BBVA co-workers across the globe to participate in the bank’s Week of Volunteering September 24-30.  Employees across the footprint participated in 189 individual events, including Habitat for Humanity projects, food bank initiatives, community clean up efforts, and financial education workshops for individuals and small businesses.

More than 7,000 BBVA employees worldwide took part in some 325 acts of solidarity as part of the Global Volunteers’ Week celebrated in over 15 countries.

For the second year in a row, BBVA has been named among the 200 companies in the world most advanced in gender equality, according to the Gender Equality Global Report & Ranking. The ranking is carried out annually by Equileap, an organization created with the goal of promoting progress in gender equality on a corporate level.

Leading financial education experts and researchers gathered together in Buenos Aires to attend the second edition of the BBVA EduFin Summit. Over the course of two days, guests discussed the importance of financial literacy as a lever to promote the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 200 participants shared success stories and examples to illustrate progress and to underline the challenges that the sector is facing.