Will Spanish companies lead the sustainable revolution?

Environmental management is growing in importance in the Spanish business community, and the measurement of the carbon footprint has become a key element in the fight against climate change.

“We are confident that Spanish companies will become leaders in the fight against climate change, adopting concrete measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals"- Cristina Sanchez, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact Spain.

Since the creation of the Carbon Footprint Registry of the Spanish Climate Change Office (OECC) in 2014, business commitment to sustainability has grown exponentially. Currently, more than 3,700 companies have registered 8,800 carbon footprints, a reflection of the private sector's effort to measure, reduce and offset its emissions.

The Carbon Footprint Registry, established by Royal Decree 163/2014, allows companies to assess their environmental impact and commit to decarbonization. It is divided into three areas:

Calculation and reduction commitment, CO₂ absorption projects, and carbon footprint offsetting. However, although the number of registrations continues to rise, the gap between calculation and offsetting remains a challenge.

Companies participating in the Registry can obtain different seals according to their level of commitment:

“Calculo” - Companies that measure their impact.

“Calculo y Reduzco” - Companies that have managed to reduce their emissions.

“Calculo y Compenso” - Companies that offset their carbon footprint.

“Calculo, Reduzco y Compenso” - Highest level of commitment.

The manufacturing sector leads the registrations, followed by construction and transportation. SMEs account for 80% of registered companies, demonstrating their growing interest in sustainability.

Only 12 IBEX 35 companies (34%) have the “Calculo, Reduzco y Compenso” seal, demonstrating a greater involvement in reducing emissions.

Increasing corporate commitment to the carbon footprint is a crucial step towards a sustainable future. However, measuring is not enough, emissions reductions and offsets must become standards, not exceptions. Will Spain become a global benchmark in the climate fight? The answer depends on today's action.