Climate policies and partnerships

In the current situation of energy crisis and climate emergency, the acceleration of the energy transition is presented as the necessary solution to achieve climate and energy security objectives, ensuring the decarbonisation of the economy and generating opportunities in terms of competitiveness, job creation, preservation of the environment and biodiversity as well as improving the health and well-being of society. 

In this regard, Iberdrola supports the most ambitious climate goals established both at the European level, with the Green Deal and the framework of measures to reduce emissions by 55 % by 2030 (known as Fit for 55), and at the international level, with the Paris Agreement. To this end, we are very active in the main forums for debate on climate action at European and global level, and we also work with business and multi-stakeholder coalitions, establishing alliances and participating in the most relevant national, European and international climate campaigns and initiatives. 

Present at COP29

The capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, became the global epicentre of dialogue on climate change with the celebration of COP29 between 11 and 22 December 2024, under the slogan "In Solidarity for a Green World". Once again this year, as a world leader in the fight against climate change, we wer e protagonists and actively participated in the UN climate conference, showing our commitment to a sustainable energy model that generates opportunities and presenting climate action as the central axis of our sustainable development strategy.

During the summit held in Baku, Ignacio Galán, Executive Chairman of Iberdrola, stressed that the meeting came at the right time to make decisions and adapt infrastructures to the possible consequences of climate change. The CEO supported the COP Presidency's objective of increasing energy storage sixfold by 2030 and expanding electricity grids in line with the scenario for achieving the global net zero emissions goal.

Iberdrola participated in more than twenty events and we delved into the energy transition in the midst of a complex geopolitical moment. We are committed to working with all the agents involved globally on accelerating this energy transformation and climate action.

Iberdrola's committment to summits

At COP21, 195 countries agreed to limit the global temperature increase to below 2° C by the end of the century and to continue efforts to keep the temperature of the planet below 1.5° C. At the last COP29, the new Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance was agreed on whereby developed countries should provide at least $300 B annually by 2035 in climate finance (from public, private, multilateral sources) to support climate action in developing countries. Common rules for carbon markets were also pushed for.

More than two decades ago, we placed the fight against climate change at the heart of our strategy. Thus, we are fully aligned with the commitments of the Paris Agreement, committing to a strategy based on:

The ambitious climate targets we have set together with the significant investments made and planned to meet these targets, as well as our active involvement in forums, alliances and international organisations advocating the fight against climate change, have enabled us to lead the transition towards climate neutrality in all areas of our activity.

This decade is critical to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement. That is why we are advancing our global growth through constant and strategic investments to drive electrification, jobs and net zero emissions with full integration of environmental and social factors.

In this way, our clean energy and grid investment strategy will lead us, by 2030, to achieve emissions neutrality in our generation, distribution and own consumption plants (Scopes 1 and 2) and to reach net zero emissions in all our activities by 2040.

Aligned with European objectives

Our support is particularly important in the context of the European Union, which, as the largest economic area committed to climate neutrality and a sustainable growth model, set the 2050 target [PDF] with the launch of the European Green Pact. In 2024, as an update of its climate targets, the European Commission presented a new recommendation to achieve neutrality by 2050: a 90 % net reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels. 

 SEE INFOGRAPHIC: An emissions-free Europe is possible [PDF]

We strongly support the objectives of the European Union and, in this framework, we are part of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), which brings together the leaders of some of the largest industrial and technology companies, including the Chairman of the Iberdrola Group, who support a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 and the 90 % emissions reduction target, backed by a strong industrial policy.

We are also Chair of the Corporate Leaders Group (CLG)External link, opens in new window. , the largest business coalition at European level, a leader in European climate campaigns and with strong positions on accelerating ambition towards a sustainable economy aligned with the net-zero emissions target, as of 2022. We have previously served as Vice-Chair for two consecutive years.

Other climate agenda activities

With our support for initiatives such as Climate Week in New York and the international summits convened by the United Nations, we stress the need to act urgently to keep global warning below 1.5ºC and mitigate the effects of climate change on the planet. This will only be possible by uniting the efforts of all agents in all geographies and sectors to multiply the effectiveness of individual commitments and find new solutions. In this respect, the electricity industry plays a fundamental role. Renewable energies, smart grids and the electrification of energy uses will be the key vectors for the descarbonisation of the economy. And we are working to remain at the forefront of this green transformation. 

New York Climate Week 2025 

New York Climate Week 2025 closed with a call for multilateral action and collaboration to meet commitments to limit global temperature rise.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) were the focus of this global meeting, in line with the emission reduction targets for 2035. Climate Week was also a space to highlight private sector solutions in clean energy and energy security. In this context, Iberdrola signed the Climate Finance Principles for Green Networks, promoted by UNEZA, to facilitate infrastructure financing in emerging markets. In addition, the Ibero-American Green Growth Network launched a declaration, supported by Iberdrola, to triple renewable capacity in Ibero-America by 2030.

Iberdrola also took advantage of Climate Week in New York to present its direct and indirect responsible engagement reports under the strategic principles of accelerating electrification in all sectors, promoting investment in infrastructure (networks) and renewables, and driving a fair, safe and affordable transition that creates jobs and industrial opportunities.

We Mean Business

The international business coalition We Mean BusinessExternal link, opens in new window. , made up of around 7,500 global companies, aims to achieve a net zero emissions economy by 2050 and halve current emissions by the end of the decade.

We have a very active participation in this coalition, the most relevant at a global level, with a special visibility for its contribution in campaigns, declarations, alliances and activities that reflect responsible behaviour in climate policies. This year, within the framework of its 4A's (Ambition, Action, Advocacy, Accountability) campaign, launched during Climate Week in New York, We Mean Business has highlighted IberdrolaExternal link, opens in new window. , along with a small group of companies, as an example of a leading company for its contribution to a sustainable energy model and the mobilisation of climate action.

The coalition has emphasised our role as a transformative agent through our action to contribute to not exceeding the 1.5°C global temperature rise. The coalition particularly values our innovative capacity to create the energy system of the future, our investment in renewables and sustainable energy solutions, our support for a just transition, our network of alliances and our defence of the most ambitious climate objectives in the main multilateral and economic forums.

Our strategic plan and supplier relationships across the value chain are the company's strongest commitment to advancing renewable energy. We Mean Business uses as an example the enormous amount of innovative green energy installations of the company, such as the Tamega gigabattery or the East Anglia One wind farm.

Other forums and alliances

We have been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2002 and have been a founding member of the Spanish Global Compact NetworkExternal link, opens in new window.  since 2004. By joining, we acquired, among others, the commitment to implement its Ten Principles, and to promote the 2030 Agenda by contributing to the achievement of the SDGs and their dissemination. We have been identified as a LEAD company, due to our high levels of commitment to the principles of the Global Compact, and we have led the climate action platform of this organisation since its creation in 2016.

We are also part of the Race to ZeroExternal link, opens in new window. , a global alliance driven by Climate Champions and the United Nations, which brings together businesses, governments and civil society actors committed to achieving a net-zero emissions future by mid-century at the latest.

Among the international initiatives in which we participate, the Alliance of CEO Climate LeadersExternal link, opens in new window.  is a project that forms part of the World Economic Forum Platform. This is a global community of CEOs who support and drive action to achieve the transition to a net-zero emissions economy. The Chairman of Iberdrola, Ignacio Galán, has joined this alliance along with 70 other business leaders from various industrial sectors and regions.

Among the sectoral campaigns, The Climate Group's EV100 plays a very important role, and we were the first Spanish company to join it. This initiative aims to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, so we committed to electrify our entire fleet of vehicles and to facilitate charging for staff in Spain and the UK by 2030.

We have also established strategic partnerships to accelerate the electrification of energy with companies in different fields and with the public sector. These partnerships enhance climate action efforts by integrating resources, technology, skills, knowledge and determination to create a more sustainable economic model. In this regard, we have submitted more than 170 projects to the European Union's Next Generation programme, which could mobilise investments of 30 billion euros and involve small and medium-sized enterprises, institutions, technology partners, start-ups and the entire value chain. These actions —related to green hydrogen, innovative renewables, sustainable mobility, energy storage, smart grids, electrification of heat and recycling of clean technology components— will contribute to economic recovery, with a focus on sustainability, green and affordable energy and jobs.

Moving for Climate NOW

On the occasion of the climate summits and during its six editions, the Moving for Climate NOW cycling route initiative has had nearly 200 participants from more than 70 different organisations and has covered more than 4,500 kilometres, with the aim of presenting a Manifesto at each edition to raise awareness of the importance of urgently combating climate change.