Garanti BBVA, together with BBVA, will join COP31 Climate Change Summit, hosted by Türkiye, as Global Banking Partners. BBVA Group's Global Banking Partnership was formalized during a meeting in Ankara between COP31 President and Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, and Garanti BBVA CEO Mahmut Akten.
The 31st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in Antalya from 9 to 20 November, will mark the beginning of a new phase in the global climate agenda, shifting the focus from commitments to implementation. As part of this partnership, BBVA Group and Garanti BBVA will work alongside the COP31 Presidency and the United Nations to support financing for sustainable activities and help accelerate the implementation of solutions for a low-carbon economy through a comprehensive programme. As a long-standing partner in Türkiye's sustainable development journey, Garanti BBVA will also host a series of events throughout COP31, bringing together stakeholders from across the sustainability ecosystem. The programme will promote knowledge sharing and foster new partnerships in areas including sustainable finance solutions, energy transition and electrification, green transformation of carbon-intensive industries and clean technologies, circular economy, resilient cities and infrastructure, as well as agriculture and biodiversity.
Commenting on the COP31 partnership, COP31 President and Türkiye's Minister of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Murat Kurum, said:
"At COP31, which Antalya will proudly host this year, we will join forces across all sectors of society to demonstrate Türkiye's determination to advance climate action by bringing together the strengths of the public and private sectors. As part of this effort, we have taken an important step together with the banking sector. BBVA Group and Garanti BBVA have become Global Banking Partners of COP31. I met with Garanti BBVA CEO Mahmut Akten to discuss what we can do throughout this process. We are pleased that BBVA and Garanti BBVA, which have consistently stood by our country's sustainable development journey, will also contribute to the success of COP31. We will continue to take determined steps to turn commitments into action throughout COP31."
BBVA CEO Onur Genç said:
"This year, the COP31 global climate summit will be held in Antalya. Türkiye is also one of BBVA's strategic markets, which makes this partnership particularly meaningful for us. I would like to invite companies, institutions, public-sector representatives and civil society to join us at COP31 in Antalya to build the partnerships and investment conditions needed to turn commitments into concrete action."
He continued:
"At BBVA, we have been supporting our clients on their sustainability journeys for many years. We provide financing, specialist advice and innovative solutions to help them transform their business models, navigate changing conditions more effectively and seize the opportunities created by this shift. In today's global environment, the transition is more important than ever. The world is becoming increasingly fragmented, uncertainty is growing, and the climate challenge calls for stronger and more determined action than ever before. That is precisely why we believe sustainability is one of the key drivers of competitiveness, resilience and long-term value.
Against this backdrop, we welcome the vision set out by the COP31 Presidency and its commitment to engaging the private sector as a key partner in this shared effort. We are proud to support the United Nations and the COP31 Presidency as a Global Banking Partner of the conference. We will bring our experience across developed and emerging markets, our strong client relationships and our capabilities to help advance the implementation of COP31's priorities."
Garanti BBVA CEO Mahmut Akten commented:
"Hosting COP31 in Türkiye represents a historic opportunity for our country. Together with BBVA, we are proud to serve as a Global Banking Partner of COP31. We see our role as Global Banking Partner as much more than a sponsorship. It is the starting point of a strategic journey to help accelerate Türkiye's sustainable transformation.
Achieving climate goals will only be possible through strong partnerships and collective action. We believe COP31 will bring together all key stakeholders, including the public and private sectors, investors and academia, around a common purpose, creating an environment that encourages new ideas, investment and concrete initiatives.
The success of COP31 will shape not only today's agenda but also the transformation journeys of companies in the years ahead. In this transition, the role of the financial sector must extend beyond providing financing.
At Garanti BBVA, we continue to support our clients' sustainability transition not only through finance, but also through advisory services and sector expertise, acting as a trusted, long-term partner. We believe COP31 will provide a valuable opportunity to foster new investments, strengthen partnerships and accelerate the development of tangible projects that will contribute to Türkiye's sustainable development."
The BBVA and Garanti BBVA pavilion in the Green Zone at COP31 will serve as a hub for dialogue, collaboration and innovation. It will host panel discussions, client meetings and high-level discussions that will strengthen knowledge sharing while helping transform a shared vision into new partnerships among stakeholders.
Sustainability remains a driver of growth
Sustainability continues to be one of BBVA Group's strategic priorities and a core driver of growth for the bank. BBVA channeled €36 billion in sustainable business in the first quarter of 2026, up 33 percent year on year, bringing the total mobilized since 2025 to €170 billion. This marks further progress towards its goal of reaching €700 billion over the 2025-2029 period.
As part of BBVA Group, Garanti BBVA places sustainability at the heart of its business model, risk management and decision-making processes. Having achieved its previous sustainable finance target of TRY 400 billion ahead of schedule, the bank raised its commitment to TRY 3.5 trillion for the 2018-2029 period. As of January 2026, Garanti BBVA has already surpassed TRY 1 trillion towards this goal. Beyond financing, the bank continues to support its clients' sustainability transition through advisory services, sector expertise and innovative solutions.
