Caring for the planet’s resources must be a daily habit. That’s how we see it at Telefónica. What’s our objective? To minimise our footprint and help maintain the fragile environmental balance as we all depend on it.
Being aware of our impact on the environment is the first step towards a sustainable business model. In our case, it comes mainly from communication networks: fibre optics, 4 and 5G, etc. which connect people and businesses. It is our responsibility to minimise it, as well as to facilitate digital solutions to environmental challenges.
Respect for the environment is a cross-cutting element of business
Reducing the environmental footprint of our networks
In network design, operation, maintenance and decommissioning:
- We pay special attention to legislation in areas such as waste management, efficient use of resources, respect for the landscape and the measurement of electromagnetic fields.
- We share facilities with other carriers or companies which manage the communication towers. The result is less visual impact, optimised land use, reduced energy consumption and reduced waste.
- We promote energy efficiency and use renewable energy to reduce CO₂ emissions as part of our strategy to be part of the solution to climate change.
- We shut off old networks so that they no longer consume energy,and we recycle all the materials derived from their decommissioning.
- We respect biodiversity with precautionary measures during construction, locating base stations outside protected areas whenever possible and through corrective measures when necessary.
- We make efficient use of water especially in regions with high water stress.
A robust and measurable Environmental Management System
In order to control our footprint and mitigate risks, we have Environmental Management Systems in order to comply with environmental regulations and ensure global standards across all the countries where we operate.
We reduce our impact
We extend our environmental practices to the entire value chain: suppliers, through clauses in contracts, information actions and audits; employees, through training; and customers and others, through consumer programmes and awareness-raising actions.
Biodiversity
The relationship between climate and biodiversity is key for maintaining climate stability and for protecting soil, air and water. To identify and assess the impacts, dependencies, risks and opportunities relating to pollution, water and biodiversity, we are working to align with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), a global initiative that integrates nature into business decisions. This will enable us to increase the organization’s resilience.
The scope of the assessment includes the Group’s direct operations and those of the value chain. This provides insight into the Group’s impacts and dependencies on the various ecosystems and ecosystem services.
The 95% of Telefónica Group’s assets are located in non-sensitive sites. This indicates that the Company has a negligible direct impact on biodiversity.
Global Environmental and Energy Policy
Designed in accordance with ISO 14001, it sets out our commitments to protect the environment and reduce our environmental footprint.
Environmental Strategy
We reduce our impact and provide solutions to today’s biggest environmental challenges through digitalisation.
