Here are today’s top stories:
Sustainability and Responsible Banking
Sustainability and Responsible Banking
Many corporate sectors are turning to new technologies to improve their business models. Big cities are no exception and are introducing the Internet of Things to improve their citizens’ quality of life.
Housing
BBVA and the Generalitat – the Regional Government of Catalonia – sign social project envisaging transfer of over 1,800 housing in Catalonia
BBVA Group and the Regional Government of Catalonia signed a deal to roll out a social housing project. Within the framework of the agreement, the institution will temporarily transfer tenancy rights over 1,800 housing units to the Generalitat. The 8-year agreement also sets out a social inclusion plan to improve the personal prospects of the beneficiaries. With this social agreement, BBVA’s social housing portfolio now stands at 7,000 units in Spain.
Studies run by the Government Delegation on Gender-Based Violence have shown that violence against women continues to exist among Spain’s youth and school children. One of the main difficulties with gender-based violence is that victims often do not recognize themselves as such. Which makes the ability for teenagers to detect the first signs of abuse absolutely critical.
The European entrepreneurship network, Startup Europe Partnership, has distinguished the companies that most help startups in the “Europe’s 25 Corporate Startup Stars” list. Telefonica and BBVA are the only Spanish companies listed in this ranking for their good practices in supporting entrepreneurs.
The presentation ceremony of the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards again transformed Madrid headquarters of the BBVA Foundation, into a window from which to contemplate some of the key ideas, insights and challenges that define the modern age.
From childhood, Ilkka Hanski was a keen butterfly collector. At the age of eight he found a specimen of a species considered extinct in Finland, and a professor at the University of Helsinki specializing in that species sent him one of his scientific papers.
If a person’s tweets reflect their interests, there can be little doubt as to what makes Martin Ravallion tick. His account directs followers to articles on the exodus of Syria’s refugees; the importance of the world’s poorest having access to information; campaigns to tackle child malnutrition. Ravallion, an economist, is aware that his vision of economic science “is not shared by the majority.” And he quotes historian Max Hartwell: “Economics is, in essence, the study of poverty.”
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.
Solidarity
7th “Valores de Futuro” (Future Values) – community solidarity, innovation and involvement
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.