Global Network Spain: 70 companies and organizations support Forética’s Manifesto for Responsible and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence – WBCSD

Madrid, 20 August 2024: WBCSD’s Global Network partner in Spain, Forética, has launched a Manifesto on Artificial Intelligence (AI), titled “AI on ESG: Challenges and opportunities of Responsible Artificial Intelligence”, with the aim of guiding companies and organizations to lead the way towards a future where AI generates a positive impact on the planet, people and society.

In the Manifesto, Forética outlines five key principles, further developed into 17 actionable recommendations, that companies and organizations should consider as they work toward responsible and sustainable AI:

1. Align the development and/or use of AI products with the achievement of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets,
2. Align the development and/or use of AI products with nature’s recovery goals,
3. Promote the development and/or use of AI products to be ethical, transparent, trustworthy,
4. Integrate into the development and/or use of AI products the contribution to inclusion, equality, diversity and the elimination of all forms of discrimination, and
5. Operate and use AI products in accordance with principles of good governance and mindful of the responsibilities involved.

The Manifesto is the result of extensive reflection by the Spanish Business Council for Sustainable Development, composed of presidents and CEOs of large Spanish companies. During its annual executive meeting last February, the Council presented a declaration proposing principles of responsible AI. These principles were ratified by Forética’s Board of Directors and further developed through collaboration with experts in the field, contributions from  the ‘AI on ESG’ platform, and input from responsible AI and corporate sustainability executives.A technical team from Accenture also supported the initiative, ensuring alignment with both the most stringent international standards and the European Artificial Intelligence Law.

The Manifesto was presented to the Spanish Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Administration, José Luis Escrivá, and the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence, Mayte Ledo. Representing the companies and organizations adhering to the Manifesto were Alberto Granados, president of Forética, Mercedes Oblanca, member of the Spanish Business Council for Sustainable Development led by Forética where she promoted the responsible AI initiative, Ignasi Belda, general director of the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA), and Ana Herrero, director of Sustainable Transformation at Forética.

This document is intended to serve as an awareness-raising and inspirational tool, urging companies and organizations to develop and continuously improve corporate policies that support the principles of responsible and sustainable AI and transform them into action, going beyond what is required by law. Notably, this is the first AI Manifesto to focus on a holistic view of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues in Europe.

A total of 70 companies and organizations have confirmed their support for the Manifesto : Accenture, Acción contra el Hambre, ADAMS Formación, Adif, Airbus, Antolín, AstraZeneca, Atresmedia, Grupo Cooperativo Cajamar, Bankinter, BERGNER, BMW, Brico Depôt, Capital Energy, Cecabank, CELSA Group, CEMEX, Cepsa, Cesce, Chiesi, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, Ecoembes, Enagás, Endesa, ENGIE, Enusa, Eulen, Exolum, FEIQUE, Ferrovial, Fundación ONCE, Galletas Gullón, Gómez- Acebo y Pombo, GoSupply, Grupo Asisa, Grupo ILUNION, Grupo Oesía, GSK, Holcim, Iberdrola, IBM, Indra, Informa D&B, Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO), ISS, KPMG, Lactalis, Lilly, L’Oréal, Mahou San Miguel, ManpowerGroup, Metrovacesa, Microsoft, Mutualidad, NTT Data, PEFC España, PRISA, Prosegur, Repsol, SAP, SEO/BirdLife, SEPI, Servimedia, Smurfit Kappa, Solunion, Solvay, Técnicas Reunidas, Transcendent, Vodafone y Workiva.

As a next step, Forética will promote the extension of support for these principles, starting, in the first place, with its more than 200 member companies and organizations. In addition, it will create a community of practice to periodically review and update the Manifesto.