Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Committed to the SDGs

At the Iberdrola Group, we have incorporated the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approved by the UN in September 2015 into our business strategy and our Governance and Sustainability System.

The 17 SDGs that make up the 2030 Agenda seek to achieve a sustainable future for people and the environment within a medium-term time horizon. The 17 goals are interrelated and present global challenges that require the involvement of all sectors of society - governments, the private sector, civil society and citizens. They are also a unique opportunity to develop innovative strategies and business models adapted to a world in profound transformation.

The SDGs and their impact on economy, society and environment

The SDGs as part of Iberdrola Group's business strategy

Main focus

Direct Contribution

Indirect Contribution to all Other SDGs

What are the SDGs?

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals - divided into 169 targets - that seek to call for global action to end poverty, preserve the planet and improve the lives and prospects of all people by 2030. They were adopted on 25 September 2015 by UN Member States as part of a new sustainable development agenda: the 2030 Agenda.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is based on the 5Ps: people, planet, prosperity, peace and collective participation, and is a comprehensive plan of action. The 17 SDGs are a fundamental part of the 2030 Agenda, helping to translate its core values and principles into concrete and measurable results. In adopting the SDGs, Member States committed to mobilise the means necessary for their implementation through partnerships with a special focus on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.

In order to achieve the SDGs, it is essential to design and develop multilevel and multi-stakeholder projects in alliance (SDG 17) (private and public sector, civil society, third sector, public administrations, etc.) that are capable of responding to the complex and systemic challenges we face today, i.e., cross-cutting aspects must be considered for each proposal and thus try to avoid hidden imbalances associated with the fulfilment of the 2030 Agenda. The SDGs are not independent, they are interrelated and therefore constitute a system.

We have already passed the halfway point of the period defined by the United Nations to achieve the seventeen SDGs and we only have seven years ahead of us. At the last SDG summit, held in New York in September 2023, Iberdrola signed up to the UN's call to increase the speed of achieving the Goals through the Forward Faster initiative. The urgency is more pressing than ever and we need innovative partnerships to achieve them.

Alongside the SDGs, the Paris Summit held in 2015 sets the guidelines that are being implemented with the aim of reducing CO₂ emissions and curbing climate change.

Agenda 2030

Find out what the 2030 Agenda is, how it came about and how to implement it.

Our contribution to the SDGs

We drive green economy and green jobs through SDGs 7, 9, 13 and 15

At Iberdrola, we advocate driving the transition towards a new socioeconomic model that is climate neutral, resilient, sustainable and inclusive. For this reason, and in line with our activity, we focus mainly on SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy) and SDG 13 (climate action). To this end, we aim to accelerate our investments in renewable energy, digitalisation and electric mobility, making a direct contribution to SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure).

Similarly, as part of our commitment to sustainable infrastructures, all of the Group's new facility projects have an exhaustive environmental plan, thus contributing directly to the fulfilment of SDG 15 (life on land).

We protect people's health and safety through SDGs 3, 6 and 17

In alignment with SDG 3, at Iberdrola we have reaffirmed our commitment to improving the quality of life of society by renewing our agreements with Cancer Research UK and the Spanish Association Against Cancer for the coming years. On the other hand, we work to prevent water pollution, as a fundamental factor in guaranteeing people's health. In this way, we contribute directly to SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), being one of the utilities with the best water productivity. Furthermore, these initiatives are articulated through multi-stakeholder partnerships, following the collaborative model proposed by SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals).

Social projects and sponsorship: direct impact on the SDGs

Iberdrola's International Corporate Volunteering Programme is aligned with the 17 goals, although it focuses especially on SDG 7, SDG 13, SDG 3, SDG 10 (reduction of inequalities) and SDG 4 (quality education) through the SDGs at School programme, a multi-company corporate volunteering project promoted by Iberdrola, which aims to convey the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals to primary school students.

With regard to SDG 5, Iberdrola has been committed to achieving equality through sport since 2016. In Spain, it currently supports 32 national sports federations, gives its name to 32 top-level leagues and 100 other competitions. The drive reaches more than 600,000 athletes, two out of every three federated women in the country, and the number of women's licences in the Federations it supports has grown by 36 %.

In Brazil, we have a sponsorship agreement with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), valid until 2024, which is the largest in the company's history. In this way, Neoenergia also becomes the first company to exclusively support the Brazilian women's national football team. And in the United Kingdom, our subsidiary Scottishpower will be the main sponsor of Scottish Women's Football (SWF) and the Scottish league.

To achieve the SDGs, the Group has launched a first sustainable indicator credit line. In addition, our Annual General Meeting approved a long-term incentive for executive directors, senior management and other company professionals, the Strategic Bonus, based not only on financial and business objectives, but also on contribution to the SDGs.

Our policies related to the SDGs

Sustainable Management Policy

At Iberdrola, we strive for development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

General Sustainable Development Policy

Sustainable development strategy is at the heart of our Group. We ensure that our business is conducted in a way that promotes the creation of sustainable value for shareholders and other stakeholders.