Climate Hits Barley, World Bank Boosts Gender Equality

Barley production faces challenges due to climate change-induced drought, impacting both local and global beer supplies. Meanwhile, The World Bank Group aims to enhance economic opportunities for women through its Gender Strategy 2030. 

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Climate Change Threatens Barley Supply

Barley production in Mexico has suffered due to climate change-induced drought, jeopardizing the brewing industry and potentially leading to a global beer shortage. The Mexican Altiplano, which produces 93% of Mexico's barley, faces declining yields, with average harvests dropping to 1.78t/ha in 2023, well below the breakeven level of 2.7t/ha. Efforts to build resilience, such as CIMMYT and Heineken Mexico's Cultivando un Mexico Mejor program, focus on conservation agriculture to optimize water use, retain soil moisture, and enhance yields, aiming for 100% sustainably produced barley by 2030.

World Bank Launched Gender Strategy 2030 to Empower Women

The World Bank Group launched initiatives under its Gender Strategy 2030, aiming to increase women's economic participation through improved internet access, social protection, and access to capital. Key goals include enabling 300 million more women to use broadband, supporting 250 million women with social protections, and providing capital to 80 million women-led businesses. This strategy, presented at the WBG Annual Meetings 2024, also addresses broader objectives of ending gender-based violence and promoting women's leadership, with the ultimate goal of accelerating gender equality globally.

BBVA Nears US$326 Billion Goal in Climate Action

BBVA mobilized about US$300 billion for climate action and inclusive growth initiatives since 2018, positioning it ahead of its 2025 target of US$326 billion. Of these funds, 77% support climate and environmental initiatives, while 23% promote inclusive growth, with notable increases across corporate, company, and retail banking sectors. To bolster its sustainability goals, BBVA opened a sustainability hub in Houston to focus on energy transition and decarbonization in the United States, expanding its clean energy and environmental project financing across key markets.

RIU Hotels Partners With Iberdrola for Renewable Energy Supply

RIU Hotels & Resorts partnered with Iberdrola Mexico to supply five of its hotels with 100% renewable electricity, supporting RIU's decarbonization strategy. The agreement covers three hotels in Nayarit, one in Sinaloa, and one in Jalisco, preventing over 35,200t of CO₂ emissions annually, equivalent to removing 7,100 vehicles from the roads. The contract includes International Renewable Energy Certificates (IRECs), ensuring all power used by these hotels is linked to Iberdrola’s renewable wind and solar sources in Mexico.

FEMSA to Divest Plastic Solutions Operations to AMMI

FEMSA agreed to sell its plastics solutions business to AMMI, a company specializing in sustainable packaging, for approximately MX$3.1 billion (US$157.9 million). This divestment supports the company’s FEMSA Forward strategy, focused on streamlining operations and developing core business areas. The transaction, pending regulatory approval, aligns with FEMSA’s commitment to long-term growth and environmental goals.