What is Telefónica’s 2026-2030 Global Sustainability Plan?

Telefónica is one of the largest Telco companies in the world, serving almost 300 million customers globally with more than 82,000 employees.

The company has approved its Global Sustainability Plan 2026-2030, which sets out a roadmap for strengthening its resilience and risk management.

It will integrate the Plan into its business to help the Telco sector adapt to changing regulations and a new global market.

What is Telefónica’s strategy?

Telefónica’s roadmap forms part of its Transform & Grow strategic plan, which it presented in November 2025.

It is based on the idea that sustainability is a tool that can drive competitiveness amidst technological change, the energy transition and geopolitical uncertainty.

The Plan is structured around corporate goals aligned with the company’s objective of driving growth, increasing efficiency, mitigating risks and strengthening access to sustainable investment.

Maya Ormazabal, Global CSO at Telefónica, says: “Sustainability is a source of growth, efficiency, resilience and trust when you truly integrate it into the business

“With this ambitious and rigorous Plan, we are strengthening our competitiveness, creating value for customers, shareholders and society.

“In this plan, Telefónica is raising its climate ambition with specific targets that reinforce its commitment to renewables, energy efficiency and the circular economy. The company aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2040.”

Telefónica’s climate plan

It aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 90% and its Scope 3 emissions by 56% by 2030.

This places the company on a path to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, including across its value chain.

Telefónica aims to achieve zero waste by 2030 through reusing and refurbishing equipment.

This extends the useful life of its technological equipment and optimises the use of critical materials.

Its environmental strategy integrates measures to adapt to climate change, strengthen infrastructure resilience and promote long-term renewable energy supply agreements.

Social inclusion and digital skills

Telefónica plans to develop technological solutions to deliver a better customer experience.

It aims to help its customers make progress in their decarbonisation goals through its EcoSmart solutions, which are designed for businesses and public authorities.

The Plan also details Telefónica’s commitment to strengthening its inclusive digitalisation initiatives.

It aims to improve connectivity in rural areas and promote responsible digitalisation, with a focus on protecting children, accessibility and people’s digital well-being.

Maya adds on LinkedIn: “The digital transition, technological evolution, climate risks and growing global uncertainty are redefining the way companies create value and build resilience. And this is precisely where sustainability takes on a strategic dimension.

“We have learned that sustainability generates more value when it is translated into concrete decisions: accelerating the decarbonisation of our operations and value chain, driving more circular models, strengthening the resilience of our infrastructures, promoting responsible and inclusive digitalisation and consolidating digital trust through strong governance and responsible artificial intelligence.”

A focus on secure governance

Telefónica’s plan also encompasses ethical and transparent governance, ensuring ESG is considered in decision-making, the supply chain and capital allocation.

The company promotes a governance model for AI, alongside a privacy framework and holistic security management.

This helps to minimise risks, capitalise on business opportunities and continue Telefónica’s leadership in reliable digital infrastructure and services.

“This Plan is the result of the joint work of many teams at Telefónica and reflects a shared conviction: sustainability is not an independent goal,” Maya continues.

“It’s a way to build a more future-proof company and to generate lasting value for our customers, shareholders and society.

“Because the real challenge is no longer defining ambition. It is to turn it into action.”