WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?
Sustainable development is a concept that appeared for the first time in 1987 with the publication of the Brundtland Report, warning of the negative environmental consequences of economic growth and globalization, which tried to find possible solutions to the problems caused by industrialization and population growth.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT EXPLAINED IN 2 MINUTES
HOW TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?
Many of the challenges facing humankind, such as climate change, water scarcity, inequality and hunger, can only be resolved at a global level and by promoting sustainable development: a commitment to social progress, environmental balance and economic growth.
As a part of a new sustainable development roadmap, the United Nations approved the 2030 Agenda, which contains the Sustainable Development Goals, a call to action to protect the planet and guarantee the global well-being of people. These common goals require the active involvement of individuals, businesses, administrations and countries around the world.
WHAT ARE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS?
The Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the Global Goals, are a call from the United Nations to all countries around the world to address the great challenges that humanity faces and to ensure that all people have the same opportunities to live a better life without compromising our planet.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS EXPLAINED IN 2 MINUTES
17 goals for a better world
These 17 objectives are interrelated and often the key to one's success will involve the issues most frequently linked to another.
They can be summarised as follows:
- Eradicate poverty and hunger, guaranteeing a healthy life
- Universalize access to basic services such as water, sanitation and sustainable energy
- Support the generation of development opportunities through inclusive education and decent work
- Foster innovation and resilient infrastructure, creating communities and cities able to produce and consume sustainably
- Reduce inequality in the world, especially that concerning gender
- Care for the environment combating climate change and protecting the oceans and land ecosystems
- Promote collaboration between different social agents to create an environment of peace and sustainable development.
WE CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION
Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Over 2.000 million people in the world live without access to a basic drinking water service, and 3,6 billion have no access to a basic sanitation service, resulting in avoidable deaths, chronic disease, fewer hours of education and low productivity.
ACCIONA has positioned itself as a key player in the water treatment sector. Its innovative management seeks to resolve the challenges with respect to the shortage of water resources.
AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
One in eight people still lack access to electricity. To ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, the use of renewable energy has to increase from the current 25% to 38% by 2025.
ACCIONA is leading the corporate fight to mitigate the effects of the climate emergency and accelerate change towards a decarbonised energy model. We are the largest 100 % clean energy company in the world.
INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Economic growth, social advancement and action against the climate emergency depend largely on investment in infrastructure, sustainable industrial development and technological progress. Today, about 1 billion people live more than 2 km from a roadway, 940 million live without electricity, and 663 million lack improved drinking water sources.
ACCIONA participates in the entire infrastructure construction value chain, from the identification of opportunity, design and execution, to the operation and maintenance of the constructed works, using the most advanced and innovative techniques.
Performance quality and safety are two of the criteria that maximize the company's value proposal in the development of large infrastructure projects and that differentiate it from other competitors in the construction field.
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Today, cities represent 3 % of the planet's surface and concentrate more than 50 % of the population. A figure that will rise to 70 % by 2050. In addition, cities generate more than 80 % of the world's gross domestic product (GDP).
In addition to facilitating access to essential services for life - such as energy and water - ACCIONA contributes to making cities places of productive well-being in which to live, favouring people's socio-economic development.
CLIMATE ACTION
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
The generation and use of energy accounts for 74 % of total greenhouse gas emissions in the world. This activity is the largest contributor to global warming. Investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency and other low-carbon technologies will continue to be essential to meet the emerging needs of humanity and to minimize their negative impact on the environment.
ACCIONA considers the fight against climate change and its effects to be a strategic priority. The company works to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in order to contribute to the progress of society and respond to the main challenges of sustainable development in the areas of infrastructure, water and energy, leading the transition to a low-carbon economy.
We contribute to Sustainable Development
WHAT IS ACCIONA DOING IN THE AREA OF SUSTAINABILITY?
At ACCIONA we want to contribute to achieving sustainable development by responding to the planet's great challenges, so that current and future generations may enjoy a better life.
Experience
Sustainable regeneration: the art of improving without altering
Below we look at some of the communities that have benefited from the energy, water and sanitation programs of the acciona.org foundation - and can testify that the lives of people are being improved while as far as possible respecting their identities and the surroundings they live in.