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Iberdrola, as a benchmark company in the fight against climate change and in support of the global climate agenda, has joined the global ‘Race to Zero’ alliance driven by the United Nations, the COP26 presidency and the climate champions¹ of this COP and of the COP 25 held in Madrid, Nigel Topping and Gonzalo Muñoz, respectively.

The aim of ‘Race to Zero’ is to mobilise and unite efforts by cities, regions, businesses and investors to build a carbon-neutral, healthier and more resilient recovery. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to achieve an emissions-neutral economyby 2050. This will reduce future threats from the repercussions of climate change and contribute towards the creation of quality employment and a strong path for sustainable and inclusive growth.

The organisations behind this initiative as well as its supporters, like Iberdrola, are of the opinion that after the COVID-19 health crisis there is an undeniable need to prioritise steps for economic recovery that allow for advancement towards an emissions-neutral economy, with all the changes that implies (fundamentally renewable energy, electrification of transport, etc.).

On the same lines, the ‘Race to Zero’ considers that “we have the opportunity to emerge from this emergency by resetting the world economy”. Iberdrola is backing the stance of this initiative with the conviction that “ensuring the health and prosperity of people and the planet is possible if we take brave decisions today so that future generations can live and flourish in a better world”.

Based on these principles ‘Race to Zero’ has been launched today by some of the leading voices and authorities in climate matters and world health: the president of COP26, Alok Sharma; the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa; the president of COP25, Carolina Schmidt, and the WHO’s director of Public Health, María Neira, among others.

During the presentation it was made clear that, once the health crisis is over, we must plan the rebuilding of the economy, paying attention to governments' stimulus packages. According to ‘Race to Zero’, the size and planning of these support measures — between US$10 trillion and US$20 trillion — will shape our economy for the coming decades.

Iberdrola - a presence in the main climate discussions and alliances

Iberdrola has supported international negotiations on climate change by taking part in all the Climate Summits and global climate agenda milestones with special emphasis since the Paris COP 21. Its Chairman and CEO, Ignacio Galán, supported the Paris Agreement with his presence at the signing ceremony held at the United Nations Headquarters in April 2016.

The company forms part of the main global climate alliances such as We Mean Business, the World Business Council For Sustainable Development, and the Climate Ambition Alliance and Business Ambition for 1.5°C, both present at the birth of ‘Race to Zero’.

Galán was also one of the first business leaders to support the objective of reaching zero net emissions by 2050, both in the global context and at European level, positioning himself at the very head of the most ambitious climate policies.

The Chairman and CEO of the group also backs climate change aims before the governments and organisations that meet at the UN General Assembly held every year in September, and in which he took part in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Ignacio Galán is also one of the group of CEOs who have led the support for a solid risk reporting and management framework regarding climate change, based on the recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TFCD).

¹ _{Powerful figures in the promotion of action on climate change and public participation in the global climate agenda initiatives.}