Bankia S A : and the foundations of origin have granted recognition to the 49 projects of the Environment and Sustainable Development calls in a virtual event

• The semi-presential event has showcased the initiatives selected in collaboration with the Montemadrid Foundation in the Community of Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha, Bancaja and Caixa Castelló Foundations in Comunidad Valenciana, Ávila and Caja Segovia Foundations; Caja Rioja, La Caja de Canarias and Iluro Foundations in Cataluña, CajaGranada Foundation in Andalucía, Cajamurcia Foundation and Sa Nostra Foundation in the Islas Baleares.
• The chairman of Bankia, José Ignacio Goirigolzarri, underlined that 'if we have learned something over these years, and it has become even clearer during 2020, it is that working in alliances and generating a framework for collaboration is essential to achieve global objectives that have greater social significance'
• The 2020 environmental calls have been supported with a total of 630,000 euros
• 66% of the projects have an impact on biodiversity, 14% on sustainable development, 12% on social innovation and 8% on circular economy

This Wednesday, Bankia and the Bank's foundations of origin held a virtual event to grant recognition to the 49 environmental projects selected in the Environment and Sustainable Development calls promoted by the entity and committed to sustainable development and nature conservation in the main regions in which the bank has a presence.

In 2020 Bankia launched the '1^st Environment and Sustainable Development Call', to which 180,000 euros have been allocated, along with the Caixa Castelló Foundation in the Valencian Community; Ávila and Caja Segovia Foundations in Castilla y León; Caja Rioja, La Caja de Canarias, Iluro Foundations in Cataluña, CajaGranada Foundation in Andalucía, Cajamurcia Foundation and Sa Nostra Foundation in the Islas Baleares.

In addition, last year Bankia and Fundación Bancaja launched the '2^nd Environmental Call for proposals' with 150,000 euros, and the financial institution also promoted, together with Fundación Montemadrid, the '2^nd Environment and Sustainable Development Call' in the Community of Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha with 300,000 euros, in which both entities collaborated at 50%.

In total, the three environmental calls for 2020 have been supported with 630,000 euros, of which Bankia has contributed 480,000 euros.

The recognition ceremony, which was held in a semi-presential manner at Bankia's headquarters and in accordance with health recommendations as a result of the global pandemic originated by Covid-19, was attended by Bankia's Chairman, José Ignacio Goirigolzarri; Bankia's Deputy General Director of Communication and External Relations, Amalia Blanco, and online with the main representatives of the foundations. The meeting was presented by the geographer and science reporter, Jacob Petrus.

In addition, the meeting was attended by representatives of some of the selected associations such as the Farmers' Union of Segovia, El Colletero in La Rioja, Foresta in the Canary Islands, the Miguel García Sánchez Foundation in Granada, the Posidonia Association in Barcelona and the Sierra Minera Foundation in Murcia.

Commitment since 2018

Bankia's Chairman stressed that 'if we have learned something during these years, and it has been even cleared in 2020, it is that working in alliances and generating a framework for collaboration is essential to achieve global objectives that are of greater social significance'. In addition, Goirigolzarri has explained that 'it is important to keep in mind that climate change is another variable to take into account nowadays, both from the point of view of risk management and the search for opportunities. In the face of such an emergency, organisations must act quickly, assessing the impacts that we generate both directly and indirectly'.

For her part, Bankia's Deputy General Director of Communication and External Relations pointed out that 'today we reap the rewards of the work carried out three years ago, when Bankia took a firmer commitment towards the environment within a Responsible Management Plan that considered it essential to support sustainable development and the transition towards a low-carbon economy'. 'We saw environmental calls as a way to increase our commitment to the fight against climate change', she noted.

This year's calls, held amidst the current pandemic context, have been aimed at supporting projects for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of land, marine and freshwater ecosystems; reduce and recycle waste, especially plastics; and encourage technological innovation to reduce and prevent environmental damage. An ability to reduce the carbon footprint is one aspect that is highly valued by the judges.

Type of projects

66% of the selected projects have an impact on biodiversity, 14% on sustainable development, 12% on social innovation and the remaining 8% on circular economy. In addition, 30 of the 49 supported projects have a special impact on SDG 13, Action for Climate, while the rest do so on SDG 17, Alliances to achieve the Objectives and SDG 4, Quality Education.

In assessing the supported initiatives, additional factors have been taken into account that generate even more value to the projects: half of them involve citizen participation, 25% foster job creation, focus on depopulated areas for the creation of opportunities and work is being carried out for the inclusion of disabled people in the workplace, collaboration with local entities and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The selected projects have been assessed by a jury made up of representatives of the foundations, Bankia and a specialised technical external consultancy.

Bankia

Bankia consolidates and reinforces its commitment to society through five priority lines of social action: employment and training, housing, local and rural development, disability and the environment. The bank is focusing its social investment on these areas and shows its commitment to society by involving the entire organisation and its employees. The Responsible Management policy is a capillary, grassroots programme that connects the bank's welfare work with its corporate objectives. This enables Bankia to prioritise five of the 17 SDGs: Climate action (SDG 13), Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), Quality education (SDG 4), Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and SDG 17, which encompasses them all, Alliances to achieve the objectives.