At Gmp, we are committed to creating long-term value in balance with the environment and society, allowing the people who work and enjoy our spaces to enjoy differential experiences.
For this reason, we incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in our buildings. But we also believe in collaboration as a way to improve and move forward with our employees, customers and suppliers towards a more sustainable future at all levels.
For this reason, on 3 December, coinciding with International Disability Day, we organised our first Gmp Sustainability Forum, under the slogan: ‘The Future is Now’. A meeting devoted exclusively to analysis and debate on sustainability, led by leading sustainability professionals from companies in the Gmp Community with relevant ideas and projects to share.
In opening and welcoming the Forum, Silvia Llanes, Director of ESG and Innovation at Gmp and President of the ESG Committee, highlighted the excellent reception of the initiative among the companies that form part of the Gmp Community; the diversity of views and experiences, and the high level of the speakers. Silvia also stressed Gmp’s firm will and commitment to continue promoting excellence through the development of environmental, social and governance sustainability in a transversal way throughout the company, including collaborative initiatives such as the Forum itself.
In this first edition of the Forum, the meeting welcomed a large number of professionals who filled the MEETING PLACE Orense 34 auditorium and enjoyed the presentations and conversations that took place in three round tables and a keynote speech, which addressed, from different angles, the challenges of climate change and decarbonisation; corporate social impact; as well as ESG success stories.
Three round tables
The first round table revolved around the ‘S’ of Social, and how the contribution of companies is a lever when it comes to generating positive social impacts. At this round table, moderated by Fernando Riaño, from Grupo Social ONCE, experts such as Anna Torres from the insurance company Zurich, Fernando Calvo from the consultancy firm HAYS, and Francisco Fernández and Oscar Cordón from Fundación Gmp and Fundación Capgemini respectively, explained their vision of how the corporate world can favour and promote the development of a more inclusive, just and sustainable society.
The round table on Climate Change and Decarbonisation dealt with environmental challenges and brought together three companies from sectors as different as finance, energy and real estate. Ángel Giménez from BBVA, José Miguel Tudela, from Enagás, and Paula Ordóñez, from the real estate consultancy Savills, each from their own perspective, explained how their companies, with their skills, knowledge, resources and specialisation, are tackling the challenges posed by climate change and decarbonisation in their areas of activity. The debate was led by Thamar Paniagua, from Strive by STX.
In the third of the roundtables, moderated by Fernando Calancha, Partner at Hogan Lovells, the Forum attendees learned about the ESG success stories of three companies, again very different from each other: American Towers, the multinational beverage company Grupo AJE and the environmental consultancy Achilles. Alejandro Kowalski, Joaquín de la Cuadra and Ramón Pérez detailed their companies’ approaches to very specific problems and opportunities, with very different types of solutions. They showed how broad the ESG territory is and how diverse the solutions can be along the entire value chain.
A masterly talk
To close the forum, the scientific researcher from the CSIC, Antonio Turiel, a populariser and reference on climate change, gave an inspiring and sobering conference on the reality of the great risks that lie in wait for our planet and, in particular, those derived from the acceleration of climate change. To do so, he gave an extensive, raw and honest overview of the many variables that come into play in the development of technologies, social and cultural changes, etc., and at the end of his talk he left a note of hope.
Don’t miss the video summary of this very special event!
