The Fundación IBERDROLA will launch this week its energy seminar through the series of conferences Energy: Challenges for a sustainable future. This was announced this morning by the Foundation's Chairman, Manuel Marín, who revealed that the event will be opened by Nicholas Stern, one of the foremost experts in the evaluation of the economic impact of climate change.

Under the heading Energy, the key to a more sustainable economy, Stern will give his speech on Thursday, 27 May, at the Madrid Stock Exchange. The economist will analyse the importance of applying a global management model to greenhouse gas emissions and the energy sector's role in addressing this challenge.

Manuel Marín has referred to the key role that the energy sector must play in the fight against climate change. Moreover, he stressed the importance of low emission technologies, particularly renewable energy sources, and the need for efficient and responsible consumption in order to mitigate the effects of global warming.

The Chairman of the Fundación IBERDROLA explained the main initiatives that the organisation will carry out over the next few months as part of its 2010-2014 Master Plan.

The institution's activity will be focused on three areas: moving towards a sustainable energy model, cultural development in countries where the Company operates, and development cooperation and solidarity. The rollout of these initiatives will be especially ambitious in Spain, the UK, the US and Latin America, regions where the Group has a greater presence.

Firstly, Marín announced that the organisation will prepare the IBERDROLA Annual Report on Energy Security, whose first edition will be published in 2011. It is hoped that this study will become a benchmark within the energy sector both in Spain and in other countries, explained Manuel Marín.

The Foundation will also announce in the coming weeks the names of the beneficiaries of both its scholarship programme for master's and PhD studies and the social aid programme Energy for Solidarity, whose main objectives are socio-labour integration of underprivileged groups and protecting the environment.

In the first case, the Foundation has received applications from more than 600 students, almost a third of them from the UK. The beneficiaries will enjoy full tuition scholarships and a monthly allowance of 1,200 euros or pounds, depending on the destination.

Social projects

As far as social projects are concerned, Manuel Marín explained that the Foundation has received 637 requests for collaboration in programmes related to the fight against poverty and social exclusion, protecting the environment and the fight against climate change, as well as improving the quality of people's lives. Each of the selected projects will receive a financial contribution of up to €20,000 from the Foundation.

In addition, the Fundación IBERDROLA will continue to carry out projects relating to the improvement of the quality of people's lives, respect for the environment, sustainable development, and preservation and promotion of the historical-artistic heritage.

The institution will also continue to collaborate in programmes related to the protection of the environment, including its partnership with the SEO Foundation / BirdLife for the recovery of the Cantabrian capercaillie, or with the University of Extremadura for the execution of research work on the lichens of the Monfragüe National Park.