Climate Lobbying Overview: Iberdrola appears supportive of ambitious action on climate change, and has engaged positively on climate-related regulation since 2015, both in the EU and globally. In particular, the company has actively lobbied for greater ambition across a range of EU-level climate policies covering energy, transport, and industrial sectors.

Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: In 2019-21, Iberdrola has consistently supported a 2050 climate neutrality target for the EU, and advocated for the “common goal of achieving a climate-neutral world by 2050” as part of the Race to Zero coalition in 2020. Furthermore, in 2020, Iberdrola promoted the need for a green recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, urging EU policymakers to increase the ambition of climate regulation. In 2020, Iberdrola continues to strongly support the Paris Agreement, associated UNFCCC processes, and has stated support for the European Green Deal in its 2020 Sustainability Report, published in February 2021. In 2020, the company has further advocated to EU policymakers that the “EU ETS carbon price signal may not be enough” to decarbonize hard to abate sectors, which require “other ambitious regulations (both at EU and national level)”.

Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: Iberdrola has actively and positively lobbied on numerous strands of EU climate policy to promote ambitious climate action. In 2019-21, Iberdrola has consistently supported an increased 55% 2030 EU GHG target, including in numerous public letters to European policymakers. In 2020, Iberdrola urged the EU to introduce a higher EU energy efficiency 2030 target of 36%, and supported a 60% GHG reduction target in EU light vehicle emissions by 2030. A 2021 consultation response from Iberdrola also appears to support a zero-emissions CO2 standard for new EU light duty vehicles by 2030. Iberdrola has also stated support for an increased 2030 renewable energy sources consumption target of 38.5% (from 32%) in a separate 2020 EU consultation. In 2020, Iberdrola’s CEO, Ignacio Galán, further suggested that the EU’s 40% renewable energy target is “very modest” and could be increased.

In 2020-21, Iberdrola appears to have also supported ambitious reforms to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to increase the carbon price and effectiveness of the scheme in numerous consultation responses. This includes advocating for a carbon price floor, an increase in the 2030 emission reduction target vs 2005 levels, and including additional sectors in the EU ETS such as road transport, buildings, and the maritime sector. In a separate 2020 consultation response, Iberdrola also supported expanding the EU ETS for aviation to include international (EU to/from non-EU) flights and reducing the allocation of free emissions allowances for aviation.

Positioning on Energy Transition: Iberdrola has strongly supported measures to transition the energy mix, electrify transportation and decarbonize the economy in 2019-21. Corporate communications from Iberdrola’s website in 2021 communicates support for the urgent decarbonization of the power sector and the rapid electrification of transportation in the EU. In a 2021 consultation submission, Iberdrola urged the EU to introduce a 100% electric vehicles sales quota in 2030-2035 to prohibit the sale of internal combustion vehicles. Statements from Iberdrola’s CEO Ignacio Galán have also promoted the use of green hydrogen in the EU and to accelerate the energy transition in Spain. Further evidence from 2019 suggests Iberdrola actively supports the phase-out of coal and the wider decarbonization of the economy. Iberdrola has also communicated support for the removal of fossil fuel subsidies in its 2020 CDP response.

Industry Association Governance: Iberdrola appears to fully disclose all of its membership of industry associations in its 2019 Sustainability Report published in February 2020, without providing further details on the company’s role within each association’s governing bodies, or the company’s influence over climate policy positions. Iberdrola has not published a review of their industry associations. Iberdrola retains memberships to industry associations lobbying climate policy with positive, mixed, and negative engagement. In the EU, Iberdrola is a member of the European Roundtable for Industry, which is lobbying EU policy with mixed, but increasingly positive engagement, and Eurelectric, which Iberdrola discloses “mixed” consistency with their climate positioning, and which is lobbying EU climate policy with increasingly positive engagement. A subsidiary of Iberdrola is also a member of SolarPower Europe and WindEurope, which are both positively engaged with EU climate policy.