Environmental alliances

The company has become increasingly involved in environmental projects in recent years, entering into a growing number of alliances with pro-environment groups and associations working to combat climate change.

Telefónica signed the United Nations Global Compact in 2002, thereby undertaking to endeavour to prevent pollution, foster environmental responsibility and help develop environmentally-friendly technologies. A year later, it became an active participant in the GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative), an initiative promoting the sustainable development of the Information Society. It is also currently an active contributor to various other regional environmental groups, including the ETNO (European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association), as well as to groups working to position the information and communications technologies sector at the heart of the solution to the climate change problem.

Also in 2008, as part of the Climate Change Office's action plan, the company signed a co-operation agreement with the UN "Plant for the Planet" programme. To support this campaign, forging a link between music and the environment, Telefónica undertook to donate 1% of the income generated from the musical careers of new artists signed up to the Espacio Movistar label.

Last year, Telefónica signed a co-operation agreement with WWF that has a two-fold objective: firstly, to carry out internal environmental awareness-raising campaigns, and secondly, to promote the role of information and communications technologies in the fight against climate change.

All these alliances contribute to environmental protection besides helping Telefónica improve its environmental performance and develop products and services that contribute to sustainability.

Telefónica also works with a number of other environmental organisations in the various countires in which it is active. This section describes the most important projects in each region.