The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, released a letter today, calling on the G7 and other world leaders to support a just transition. BBVA Chairman Carlos Torres Vila, the sole representative of a Spanish bank, has signed, together with 78 other CEOs or heads of large global companies, a declaration whose objective is to promote the contribution of the private sector in the fight against climate change.

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.

BBVA has joined the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) as one of the 43 founding members. Banks in this international alliance commit to ensuring that all of their credit and investment portfolios are neutral in net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, in line with science and the most ambitious targets in the Paris Agreement. In addition, the direct impact of their activities must also be neutral – something that BBVA already achieved in 2020.

BBVA has fulfilled its commitment to offer a sustainable alternative for its products in Spain – both for individuals and companies. The wide range of sustainable solutions is designed to respond to society’s growing demand and to help customers make the best financial decisions that also help the environment.

BBVA and Enel have signed a €1.35 billion sustainable linked guarantee facility. This guarantee facility, the largest of its kind signed by Enel Group, is an essential and necessary financial tool for the company’s entire operations: production, transport and distribution of electricity and gas, and public lighting services.

Citizens, companies, city councils and institutions from all over the world will turn off the lights this Saturday, March 27 for Earth Hour to fight against climate change and the loss of biodiversity. Since 2007, BBVA has participated in this initiative organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature, shutting down corporate headquarters and buildings distributed throughout all the geographies where the bank is present.

BBVA became carbon neutral in direct CO2 emissions in 2020. The Group managed to meet this goal by offsetting its entire carbon footprint through carbon mitigation projects, which also benefited the local communities where they are developed. The bank offset 120,562 tons of CO2e during the year through seven projects developed in different countries across its footprint. This achievement represents another step towards in its push to align its activity with the Paris Agreement and reduce direct and indirect emissions.

BBVA reinforces its leading position in the European sustainable bond issuance. On this occasion, the bank has acted as sole green structurer and bookrunner for the successful issuance of the green bonds of Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc (SHET), an electricity transmission company and subsidiary of SSE plc. With this dual tranche transaction, the company consolidates its position as the UK’s most active utility in ESG bond financing.