At its annual executive session, the Spanish Business Council for Sustainable Development, composed of presidents and CEOs of 50 large companies and led by Forética, has positioned sustainability as a key pillar of competitiveness and business confidence. Reaffirming its commitment to action in the face of climate emergency, biodiversity loss and inequality, the Council stresses the need to operate with the highest standards of good governance and transparency.
Likewise, in the declaration presented today at the meeting held at the Iberdrola Campus, the Council emphasizes the urgency of intensifying measures to adapt to extreme climate events, and highlights the critical importance of water as an essential resource for which sustainable strategies and investment in innovative technologies for efficient management should be encouraged.
As a result of the work of the committees set up within the Council, two white papers were presented today that address the major priority challenges in Spain from a business perspective.
On the one hand, the Net Zero Commission has presented the document Energy Transition, Business and Civil Society: A Catalytic Relationshipin which it states that the energy transition must be supported by civil society to ensure environmental, economic and social benefits.
On the other hand, the document Business Leadership for Increasing Prosperity. A Call to Actionprepared by the members of the Equity Action Commission of this Council, which stresses that the role of companies in the training of talent must be in line with the transformations of the labor market, promoting responsible technologies such as artificial intelligence, as well as guaranteeing access to essential products and services.
Finally, the Council calls for action by companies, administrations and social entities to establish dialogues and collaborate in projects that benefit the most vulnerable. It also urges Forética to lead sustainable water strategies with ambitious goals and alliances that guarantee the efficient use of water and improve access to it in vulnerable communities, consolidating business leadership in building an inclusive and sustainable future.
The Council's inaugural meeting was presided over honorarily by H.M. King Felipe VI. As of today, the Board is made up of the top representatives of close to 50 major companies: Accenture, Adif and Adif AV, Airbus, Amazon, AstraZeneca, Banco Santander, Bankinter, BMW, CaixaBank, Grupo Cooperativo Cajamar, Cemex, Chiesi, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, EDP, Enagás, Endesa, ENGIE, Ferrovial, Gestamp, Grupo Dia, GSK, HEINEKEN, Holcim, Iberdrola, IKEA, ILUNION, KPMG, ISS Facility Services, L'Oréal, Mahou San Miguel, ManpowerGroup, MAPFRE, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, Moeve, MSD, Mutualidad, Naturgy, NTT Data, Grupo OHLA, Quirónsalud, Sanitas, SAP, SEPI, Smurfit Westrock, Solvay, UCB and Zelestra.
The declaration presented during this meeting ratifies the lines established in the roadmap Vision 2050. The time for transformation', adapted by Forética to the Spanish reality. adapted by Forética to the Spanish reality and which aims to guide companies in the development of ambitious and feasible actions for the transformation towards sustainability in all key areas of business activity.
