5 june, World Environment Day

We are progressing toward the energy transition and climate neutrality, both essential to restoring ecosystems

Nature Events Renewable energy

World Environment Day 2024, which is celebrated annually on 5 June, is part of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global initiative to prevent, stop and repair damage to degraded ecosystems all over the world. Totally aligned with this objective, Iberdrola Group is working to conserve healthy ecosystems in all its areas of influence.

Energy transition, at the core of our climate action

Iberdrola's commitment to the protection and conservation of natural areas is developed in accordance with the principles established in its first biodiversity policy, created in 2007 and renewed in 2024, and is based on years of work to integrate the consideration of biodiversity into the Group's management and decision-making.

In this regard, Iberdrola has had a biodiversity action plan in place for years based on four priority action principles defined in the Biodiversity Policy:

To protect biodiversity and make sustainable use of natural capital by adopting a conservation hierarchy.

To promote knowledge of ecosystems in order to identify, quantify and value the impacts of the Group's activities.

To collaborate with stakeholders, considering their biodiversity needs and participate in biodiversity enhancement projects.

To highlight and raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity protection and conservation through training activities.

Renewable energy for conserving ecosystems

Iberdrola has made conserving and developing biodiversity an intrinsic part of its strategy and promotes clean energies responsible with nature as a source of sustainable development. Its commitment is embodied in its Biodiversity Policy and has inspired it to set an ambitious target: to achieve zero net biodiversity loss by 2030, working to ensure that new facilities deliver a net positive impact on biodiversity, where possible.

Between 2022 and 2023, the company has carried out more than 1,600 biodiversity protection actions worldwide, according to the 2024 Biodiversity Report [PDF], combining its renewable projects with initiatives to protect biological diversity in ecosystems and caring for flora, fauna and natural heritage. The Group's vision is to build an energy model in harmony with nature and humankind.

The "Start-up Challenge" for solving challenges 

Iberdrola periodically carries out "Start-up Challenges" to protect the environment. You can learn about the latest projects by clicking on this link.

Our reforestation goal: 20 million trees in 2030

Forest.
The Iberdrola's Trees programme will promote the planting of 20 million trees by 2030.

Iberdrola has  its Trees Programme, through which it intends to plant of 20 million trees during this decade, which will absorb approximately 6 million tons of CO2 in 30 years. We have already planted 3.4 million trees and expect to reach 8 million by 2025. 

The Trees programme has three branches:

Natural heritage conservation, to mitigate and offset the loss of habitats caused by new infrastructures.

Regeneration and creation of natural value, to reverse the loss of forest mass through initiatives for planting on our own or on third-party sites.

Research and awareness-raising, through the company's Volunteer Programme and by backing R&D projects.

 SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Iberdrola's Trees Programme [PDF] External link, opens in new window.

Committed to the environment and ecosystems

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Leaf.

Biodiversity and health

The UN is keen to emphasise the important role biodiversity plays in protecting us against infectious diseases like COVID-19.

Climate change.

Climate change is bringing forward the sixth extinction

More than 25,000 species, almost a third of all those known, are in danger of disappearing. Climate change will be responsible for 8 % of these.

Acid rain.

Acid rain, a real danger to living beings

Acid rain leads to acidic soil and acidic surface water, which have devastating effects on ecosystems and living beings.

Natural resources.

Overexploitation of natural resources

Natural resources are crucial to our survival, but if we use them faster than they can regenerate, they may run out.

Deforestation.

Forests, the dangers of deforestation

Deforestation is on the rise, endangering the ecosystems on which the planet's natural wealth and its ability to cope with climate change depend.

Natural pollinators.

Natural pollinators are disappearing

The vast majority of the world's food crops depend on natural pollination by these species, which are now threatened by intensive farming, pesticides, pollution and climate change.

Coral reefs.

Climate change and the survival of coral reefs

Scientists believe that almost 90 % of these super-ecosystems may be wiped out by 2050.

Megadiverse countries.

Protecting megadiverse countries

Just 10 % of the Earth is home to 70 % of the planet's terrestrial biological diversity It is vital we protect these mega-diverse countries.

Exotic species.

Invasive exotic species

These species, when introduced into a foreign environment, end up colonising their surroundings. This is the second most widespread cause of biodiversity loss in the world.

Species saved from extinction.

Species saved from extinction

Ninety-nine per cent of the creatures that once lived on this planet are now extinct. However, environmental conservationists have helped some species to survive.

Future of our planet.

What will Earth be like in 2030?

Climate change is a threat to the future of our planet, but there is still time for us to do something about it and mitigate its effects.

All information about world environment day

What is World Environment Day and why was it started?

World Environment Day is the most important day on the United Nations' Calendar for raising awareness of environmental action on a global scale. It is a platform for public education that brings together governments, companies, experts and citizens from more than 150 countries to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue.

The importance of World Environment Day: What is it for?

World Environment Day is a powerful platform for speeding up climate action. Its aim is to encourage governments to take measures to preserve wild spaces, raise awareness among companies of the need to adopt more ecological business models, to urge farmers and manufacturers to be more sustainable and to demand that society at large reflects on the way we consume things and how we can move toward a green future.

When is it held and how old is the event?

World Environment Day has been celebrated every 5 June since 1974. The date coincides with the start of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm Conference) which was held from 5 to 16 June 1972. The celebration of World Environment Day 2024 takes place 52 years after this meeting, which was the first major summit on environmental issues and a turning point in the development of international environmental policy.

Who created World Environment Day?

The UN proclaimed 5 June as World Environment Day, months after the Stockholm Conference in 1972. 

What is this year's theme?

The theme of World Environment Day 2024 focuses on land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.

Where and how is it celebrated? World Environment Day 2024 activities

World Environment Day is celebrated worldwide with different events and activities. Through social media, you can participate by following and using the hashtag #GenerationRestoration.

Is there a host country each year?

In 2024, the host country for World Environment Day is Saudi Arabia, supported by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).