Last update: 21/02/2022

We use these two words to describe the Earth’s changing weather patterns as a result of human activity and the natural climate cycle. Climate change is now one of the most important challenges the world is facing. If nothing is done to stop it, it will threaten our future.

Climate change is trending — not as a fad, but as one of humankind’s biggest concerns. To curb the devastation caused by a relentless climate crisis, people are raising awareness while governments and companies across the globe are making a number of pledges. 

According to the latest report by the UN’s International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) titled AR6 Climate Change 2021: 

The Physical Science Basis, the devastating damage caused by climate change is opening an unprecedented social and environmental rift. In 2018, the IPCC warned of the urgent need to limit warming to 1.5ºC by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that climate change would be the cause of 250,000 more deaths between 2030 and 2050 on account of heat stress, malnutrition and many other ailments that are influenced by temperature and rainfall.  

Furthermore, the effects of climate change on people and the environment are becoming irreversible, namely: 

• Melting polar ice caps: The rising temperatures are causing large masses of polar ice to melt. This will directly raise sea levels and increase the risk of flooding in coastal areas.
   
• Deforestation: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that the planet has lost some 400 million hectares of forest owing to human and natural phenomena since the early 90s. This decline has grown more intense in recent years. 
   
• Loss of animal species: Climate change threatens tigers, polar bears, sea turtles and thousands of other animal species. According to the WFF’s 2018 report, Wildlife in a warming world, around half of animals and plants in the planet’s most bio-diverse regions could disappear by the end of the century. 
   
• Harsher weather: hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural phenomena have become more devastating in recent years in terms of both material and human loss. 
   
• Migrations: As resources like clean water grow scarce and many areas become unsanitary, people are being forced to emigrate; this worsens social disparities. 

Santander is working every day to fight climate change by aiding our customers’ transition to a green economy and pursuing corporate objectives like becoming net-zero in CO₂ emissions by 2050.

We're also involved in ecological initiatives such as Santander México’s Reforestamos (“We reforest”); Santander España’s Plan Natura; and Santander Brasil’s historic agreement with Bradesco and Itaú Unibanco to promote sustainable development in the Amazon. 

The challenge we face requires everyone’s commitment to a sustainable future. In the words of Ana Botín, “If we are to green the world’s economy, we need a truly global effort — banks, companies, governments, regulators and civil society working together at pace”.