Promoting ecology that protects against climate change

Every October 24th, the International Day Against Climate Change is commemorated to raise awareness of its effects on human health, ecosystems, and the socioeconomic stability of regions. The impact of extreme events such as hurricanes and droughts, which have particularly affected Catalonia in recent years, highlights the need to address their consequences.

Climate change has shaped a new reality in which extreme weather events impact our daily lives and transform the environments we inhabit. Faced with this new scenario, Veolia has established itself as a global leader in decarbonization and optimized resource management through its three activities in the areas of water, energy, and waste. With an innovative approach, the group promotes the ecological transition by providing solutions that help us adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change.

"Ecology that protects"

The ecology that protects Green Up is a concept promoted by Veolia that unites human progress and environmental protection to support its municipal, industrial, and agricultural clients in their transition toward sustainability. Therefore, it prioritizes innovation and digitalization as drivers of the three key objectives of its Green Up strategic program: decarbonization, decontamination, and resource regeneration. Through advanced technologies such as digital twins, IoT, big data, and generative AI, operational efficiency is improved and incidents are anticipated, contributing to the development of more efficient, environmentally friendly, and climate-resilient infrastructures.

An example of this is the PERTE RESSONA project for the digitalization of the entire water cycle in the Barcelona metropolitan area. Promoted by Aigües de Barcelona (part of the Veolia group) and recognized by the Ministry of Ecological Transition as an outstanding project for its innovative nature, it promotes the use of technology and digitalization to optimize energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of water infrastructure. Its objectives include an 8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a 5% reduction in the water footprint, and a 9.5% reduction in energy consumption in the metropolitan area.

Alternatives to ensure water availability

The growing water scarcity in Spain requires diversified management of water resources to avoid relying exclusively on conventional water sources and climatic conditions. Therefore, Veolia manages water through two main strategies. The first is the reuse of treated wastewater for new urban, agricultural, and industrial uses, with a representative example being the Baix Llobregat ecofactory in Barcelona. Veolia currently reuses approximately 15% of treated wastewater in Spain.

The second strategy is the desalination of seawater and brackish water (water with a lower proportion of salt than seawater) to guarantee supply in the face of water scarcity and increasing demand. A key facility for this purpose is the Bahía de Palma de Mallorca desalination plant, which is the main source of drinking water on the island. The group's global experience contributes to the development of desalination solutions in Spain, as currently, 18% of the world's desalination plants use Veolia technologies.

Renewable energies for a more sustainable future

The multinational leads the energy efficiency sector in Spain, thanks to its experience in flexible and innovative solutions based on the generation of local decarbonized energy, which ensures an uninterrupted energy supply, improves people's well-being, and protects the planet. One of the solutions is the efficient management of forest biomass, which prevents fires and transforms this plant waste into green energy, promoting the circular economy. Geothermal energy, meanwhile, is presented as a clean and inexhaustible energy alternative, as it uses subsoil heat to constantly supply heating, cooling, and hot water.

Another initiative is cooling and heating networks, such as the Ecoenergies Barcelona project, the world's first urban network of ecological cooling and renewable heat, the result of a strategic alliance between Barcelona City Council and Veolia.

Transforming waste into resources

Veolia also focuses its strategy on creating circular value chains, in which waste is transformed into high-quality raw materials, thus promoting more efficient production and consumption systems and reducing the use of raw materials and energy.

In this regard, the Maresme Comprehensive Waste Recovery Center stands out, processing 280,000 tons of waste annually through sorting, composting, methanization, and energy recovery plants. Furthermore, regarding the management of sewage sludge, 100% of the more than 230,000 tons generated in 2024 at the wastewater treatment plants managed by Aigües de Barcelona were recovered, mainly through composting or direct agricultural application. This represents a saving of almost 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

With integrated management in the areas of water, energy, and waste, the company contributes to mitigating the effects of climate change, strengthening its commitment to sustainability and focusing on innovation as a driver of ecological transformation.