Spanish bank BBVA invests €63 billion in sustainable businesses during the first half of 2025, marking a new record.
BBVA's Ambitious Sustainable Business Strategy Yields Success
BBVA, a leading global bank, has been making significant strides in sustainable finance, as evidenced by its recent achievements and upcoming projects.
At the 2025 Energy Tech Summit in Bilbao, BBVA was the main sponsor, bringing together over 1,500 cleantech experts. During the summit, BBVA announced a groundbreaking initiative: the first project finance for a hydrogen plant powered by renewable energy in the Iberian Peninsula. This plant is expected to commence operations in the first half of 2026.
BBVA's commitment to sustainability extends beyond renewable energy projects. The bank is currently focusing on target-setting for agriculture, aiming to make a positive impact across various sectors.
The bank's sustainable business strategy for 2025-2029 is ambitious in scale and impact. BBVA has set a target to channel €700 billion into sustainable business activities over this period, more than doubling its previous target of €300 billion. This strategy is centred on three main pillars: climate, natural capital, and social opportunity.
BBVA has already demonstrated its leadership in sustainable financing. In the first half of 2025, the bank channelled €63 billion into sustainable business, marking a 48% year-on-year increase and setting a new record. For instance, BBVA acted as Agent Bank and Co-Coordinator in a €2.5 billion sustainable syndicated credit facility for Iberdrola.
In 2024 alone, BBVA funded €27 billion in sustainable business and development projects, particularly in emerging markets such as Mexico, South America, and Turkey. This represented a 60% increase compared to 2023.
Supporting businesses, especially through accessible, tailored financial solutions focused on sustainability at every stage of development, is one of BBVA’s primary objectives. The bank emphasises digital transformation and advanced technologies alongside sustainability to maintain leadership in corporate banking and enhance growth in revenue and profitability.
Overall, BBVA combines broad global operations across 25 countries with expertise in corporate banking, investment services, and sustainable finance advisory to support a diverse clientele aiming for strategic and sustainability goals.
BBVA continues its Net Zero transition plan for 2050, and has set decarbonization targets across ten sectors. Key drivers for the increase in sustainable business include digital tools for energy savings and financing for hybrid and electric vehicles. The bank also channeled €7.5 billion in the retail segment, a 119% year-on-year increase.
In summary, BBVA’s 2025-2029 sustainable business strategy is ambitious in scale and impact, with substantial financial commitments and clear pillars guiding its efforts in climate action, natural capital conservation, and social opportunity enhancement, paired with notable achievements already realized in 2025. This strategy more than doubles the previous €300 billion goal for 2018-2025.
- BBVA's sustainable business strategy for 2025-2029, which is anchored on the principles of climate action, natural capital conservation, and social opportunity enhancement, also includes a focus on environmental-science and circular economy, as evidenced by their initiative to fund agricultural target-setting and their investments in renewable energy projects.
- With a commitment to channel €700 billion into sustainable business activities over the next five years, BBVA continues to demonstrate its leadership in sustainable finance, integrating science, finance, and business to create environmentally friendly business opportunities and spur economic growth.
