Telefónica, officially known as Telefónica S.A., is a leading telecommunications company headquartered in Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1924, it has grown to become one of the largest operators in the world, with a significant presence across Europe and Latin America. The company primarily operates in the telecommunications industry, offering a diverse range of services including mobile and fixed-line telephony, broadband, and digital solutions. Telefónica is renowned for its innovative products, such as its Movistar and O2 brands, which cater to millions of customers with unique offerings in connectivity and digital services. With a strong commitment to sustainability and digital transformation, Telefónica has achieved notable milestones, including advancements in 5G technology and smart solutions. As a market leader, it continues to shape the future of telecommunications while maintaining a focus on customer-centric services.
How does Telefónica's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Telecommunications Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Telefónica's score of 100 is higher than 100% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2023, Telefónica reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 2,307,702,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at about 122,460,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions at approximately 214,659,000 kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions reaching about 1,970,583,000 kg CO2e. The company has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming for an 80% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030 from a 2015 baseline, and a 90% reduction by 2040. Additionally, Telefónica targets a 56% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030, also from a 2016 baseline. Telefónica's climate strategy includes achieving net-zero emissions across its value chain by 2040. The company has made significant progress, with a reported 70.4% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions globally since 2015. Furthermore, it aims to improve energy consumption per unit of traffic by 90% by 2025. The data is cascaded from Telefónica, S.A., which is the parent organization, ensuring that the targets align with industry standards and commitments to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The company is also a signatory of the Amazon Climate Pledge, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and climate action.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 114,580,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 1,559,203,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | - | - | 0,000,000,000 | - | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Telefónica's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 0% last year and increased significantly since 2010, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. The vast majority of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing the vast majority of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 54% of Scope 3 emissions.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Telefónica has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.


Common questions about Telefónica's sustainability data and climate commitments