In 2007 we joined the UN Global Compact with the conviction that being a health company not only means taking care of people, but also of the environment in which we live. We were pioneers in the sector in adhering to this ambitious global commitment, which promotes responsible business practices in areas as diverse as human rights, the environment and the fight against corruption.
Today, 20 years after the founding of the Global Compact in Spain and more than a decade since our accession, is a good time to reflect on what we have achieved, the challenges we still face and the importance of continuing to lead by example.
We are firmly convinced that companies have the responsibility to generate a positive, real and effective impact on society, and being part of this global movement has allowed us to align ourselves with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and draw a clear roadmap. towards a more just, inclusive and sustainable future. In this sense, the most important challenge we face today is balancing the health of people with that of the planet, an inseparable binomial.
But this path is not easy. The climate crisis and its effects on global health are realities that demand immediate solutions. The 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report noted that climate change has a direct impact on health, with an increase in respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. In this context, our role as a health company requires us to be more ambitious and proactive in our decarbonization policies and promotion of community and social well-being.
Since our initial commitment to the 10 principles of the Pact, we have understood that sustainability, in all its parts, must be at the heart of all our activities. This has led us to develop a strategy that links health and the environment, and has allowed us to be an active agent in promoting well-being at both the individual and community levels.
In these years, one of our pillars has been the promotion of inclusive sport, thanks to the work we have been doing for more than twelve years at Fundación Sanitas. We believe in the power of practicing sports among people with and without disabilities as a driver of social inclusion and as a tool to improve the physical and mental health of everyone. The ‘Inclusive Sports at School’ initiative, for example, has been a key piece in breaking down barriers and creating a culture of acceptance and respect from the earliest ages.
But we also work to make this possible at the highest level and create references in society. In fact, this October we are going to celebrate the II Inclusive Games in Madrid, a historic sporting event in which Spanish and international Olympic and Paralympic athletes will compete together, united by a regulation created specifically for this.
In addition to the commitment to sport, and aligned with the objective of caring for the environment in which we operate, another milestone stands on this journey in which we advance inspired by the Pact. It is about the decarbonization of our processes with the aim of reducing the impact we generate.
We have been taking actions for years to reduce our carbon footprint and in recent years, we have also committed to being a Net Zero company in 2040. To achieve this we are reviewing our processes, we invest in efficiency and we have relied on a fundamental lever: digitization of our medical services. Thanks to it, we have avoided the emission of 8,500 tons of CO2 in 2023, a significant figure that reflects the impact of integrating technology into our medical care.
Another of the most emblematic projects of our strategy is the Healthy Cities program, which we launch year after year with the aim of transforming cities into healthier and more sustainable environments and contributing to having healthier citizens committed to their own personal health and that of the rest. around. Modern cities face numerous challenges, from air pollution to sedentary lifestyles.
With this initiative, we encourage companies, municipalities and citizens to adopt healthier habits, promoting physical activity, sustainable mobility and care for the environment. Healthy Cities also promotes reforestation initiatives and the creation of urban green spaces, which are a crucial part of our effort to create healthier living environments. Because well-being is not just an individual issue, but is impacted by the collective environment and cities play a crucial role in this sense.
With all this, we face the future with optimism and responsibility. We know there is still a lot to do, but we are also proud of the path we have come. Health cannot be separated from sustainability and our commitment will continue to be to work for a world in which people can live longer and better, in harmony with the environment that surrounds us. This is, after all, the legacy we want to leave.