Sustainability

An electrocontinent is a continent where electricity plays a greater role than fossil fuels in sectors such as transportation, industry, and buildings. The European Union (EU) aims to move toward this model through its Electrification Action Plan, published in July 2026.

BBVA supports the joint statement from global corporate leaders ahead of COP31 in Türkiye, underscoring that “the low-carbon transition is a strategic opportunity,” and urging regulators to create “predictable policy frameworks that unlock innovation and investment.” The letter also calls for scaling up international climate finance for developing economies. Chairs and CEOs from the World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders,  including BBVA Chair Carlos Torres Vila, have endorsed the letter.

Javier Rodríguez Soler, BBVA’s Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB), will co-chair the Climate Finance and Investments Working Group at the COP31 Business Forum. Convened alongside the Climate Summit taking place in Türkiye in November, the group will tackle barriers to mobilizing climate finance and develop recommendations for the COP31 Presidency.

Power system flexibility is the system's ability to adjust electricity generation, consumption, storage and exchanges in response to changes in supply and demand. Its purpose is to keep the grid balanced and safely integrate higher levels of renewable generation.

Garanti BBVA has completed a USD 125 million sustainable subordinated bond issuance with a consortium of IFC and DEG. The proceeds will support the Bank’s capital structure while being directed toward green investments by micro-enterprises and SMEs and improving women entrepreneurs’ access to finance.

Clean technologies, or cleantech, are no longer just solutions that help lower emissions. They have become a key component in economic and geopolitical transformation. The first edition of the European Clean Tech Atlas 2026, published by the Bruegel think tank offers an in-depth look at their deployment and the challenge of combining decarbonization, industrial competitiveness and energy security.

During New York Climate Week, held from September 20-27, BBVA and Garanti BBVA actively participated in various platforms addressing the global climate and sustainability agenda. Garanti BBVA CEO Mahmut Akten, Garanti BBVA Executive Vice President Sinem Edige, BBVA Global Head of Sustainability and Corporate Investment Banking Javier Rodriguez Soler, BBVA Global Head of Sustainability Intelligence & Advocacy Antoni Ballabriga, and bank executives shared their expertise and insights across events, conferences, and high-level roundtable discussions. They evaluated global developments, the sustainable transformation journey of Turkey and its financial ecosystem, and key priorities leading up to COP31 alongside international stakeholders.

Antalya will host COP31, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, from November 9 to 20, 2026. The city is seeking to consolidate a sustainable model for urban development and tourism while tackling challenges such as water stress, rising temperatures and sea-level rise.

BBVA has published its Green Bonds Report 2025, which details how proceeds from its green bond issuances were allocated and the environmental impact of the resulting project portfolio. At year-end 2025, BBVA had 20 green bonds outstanding, with an equivalent value of €5.666 billion. The financed projects had an estimated impact of 2.9 million tons of CO₂ emissions avoided during the year, 51% more than in 2024, and are estimated to have generated nearly 11.5 million MWh of renewable energy. That is roughly equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 3.2 million European households.

Both international events seek to raise awareness of climate change and spur action to mitigate it, but they differ in how they operate, the commitments they generate and their scope. Climate Week NYC is a gauge of how businesses, institutions and civil society are thinking and acting, while the Conference of the Parties (COP) brings together heads of state to negotiate binding agreements.

BBVA measures and shares climate physical risk assessments with its clients. In doing so, it relies on proprietary methodologies through BBVA Adapta, an in-house tool that enables it to assess the physical climate risk of its portfolio at a granular level and over different time horizons. The analysis generates metrics and spatial visualizations for the bank’s Risk and Business areas.

BBVA Research believes that COP31, to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, this coming November, must turn climate commitments into concrete, verifiable action. The bank’s research unit notes that, while climate governance already has a framework of commitments and initiatives in place, a gap remains between the stated goals and their implementation. In a recent climate report, it also cites financing as one of the factors that will determine progress toward the measures agreed upon.

BBVA has announced a €2 million donation to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs and help with the recovery and reconstruction of the areas affected by the earthquake in Colombia. The funds will be channeled through UNHCR, UNICEF, and ‘Empresas Unidas por Colombia’, an initiative led by the National Business Association of Colombia (ANDI). BBVA has also launched a fundraising campaign among customers and employees, along with other support measures in Colombia and Spain.

The bank has reached €560 million ($630 million) in committed investments in funds specializing in decarbonization. The bank now invests in twelve climate funds managed by some of the world’s leading international investment platforms, thus helping to finance projects and companies that champion the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Garanti BBVA has issued a $30 million sustainable bond aligned with the BBVA Sustainable Debt Financing Framework under its international funding program. The proceeds of the bond will be channeled towards financing activities that advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, while also meeting the relevant criteria set out in the Orange Bond Principles developed by the Impact Investment Exchange (IIX).

The total solar eclipse due to take place on August 12, 2026 will be one of the most notable astronomical events visible from Spain. However, to enjoy it safely and responsibly, it's important to protect your eyes, plan your travel in advance, and minimize your environmental footprint and impact on local communities.

BBVA channeled €82 billion into sustainable business in the first half of 2026. Spain accounted for approximately €26 billion of this amount. This activity allows clients to access financing and solutions for the energy transition, efficient resource use and social challenges. With this progress, the bank channeled a cumulative €216 billion toward its €700 billion target the 2025-2029 period.

BBVA has announced that it will take part as the Global Banking Partner of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), to be held from November 9 to 20 in the city of Antalya, Türkiye. Through this partnership, the bank will work alongside the climate summit’s Presidency and the United Nations to continue driving financing for the energy transition and accelerate the roll-out of solutions for a low-carbon economy.

Garanti BBVA has developed a new treasury solution to help companies trading with the European Union manage the carbon cost risk arising from potential price fluctuations in Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM¹) certificates through derivative products. As part of this initiative, Garanti BBVA introduced an early solution in Türkiye by structuring and executing a transaction to help Medcem Cement Group manage and hedge its CBAM-driven price risk. Through this innovative solution, Medcem Cement Group has gained greater predictability over its future CBAM certificate costs by managing a portion of the price risk associated with the CBAM certificates underlying the transaction today

Garanti BBVA has issued a $30 million sustainable bond under its international funding program to finance projects focused on climate change adaptation and resilience.

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BBVA is providing sustainability training for 937 employees from 688 suppliers across 22 countries through the Capacity Building Program: Sustainable Suppliers. Participation linked to the bank has increased in 2026, with 58 percent growth in 2026 in enrolled individuals, a 65 percent increase in the number of suppliers and 69 percent growth in the number of countries compared with the previous year. The initiative is led by the United Nations Global Compact Spain, ICEX Spain Export and Investment and the ICO Foundation.

The United Nations Global Compact has selected BBVA’s experience implementing a sustainability assessment model as a case study for UN Academy, its global platform for corporate learning. In 2025, BBVA evaluated 5,200 suppliers using this model, compared to 4,600 in 2024.

During the recent London Climate Action Week, several BBVA leaders cautioned how physical climate risk is no longer solely a sustainability issue but has become a key consideration in business and investment decisions. According to Antoni Ballabriga, Global Head of Sustainability Intelligence at BBVA, “the ability to adapt to climate change has become a competitive advantage for companies.”

BBVA has announced a €5 million donation to support the humanitarian response in the aftermath of the earthquakes in Venezuela. The contribution will support initiatives launched by UNICEF, UNHCR and the Red Cross, and other local organizations, both to address the most urgent needs and to contribute to subsequent reconstruction efforts. In addition, the BBVA Group has launched fundraising campaigns among clients and employees to expand support for the emergency and has rolled out other initiatives to support the population during this initial phase of the emergency.

The Bonn meetings are organized by the United Nations in preparation for the upcoming Climate Summit (COP31), which will be held in Antalya, Türkiye. Government delegates from nearly 200 countries will attend to prepare for the climate agreements.

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Diversity is part of who we are, and inclusion is part of the culture we build every day. On International LGBTIQ+ Pride Day, BBVA reaffirms its commitment to creating environments where everyone can grow and thrive with authenticity, confidence and equal opportunities.

Preparing for a COP event is a year-round process. This phase involves a range of activities that connect one annual summit to the next and are designed to keep climate action moving forward. Technical meetings, diplomatic negotiations and international coordination all play a role in steering the way toward each summit.

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