On World Environment Day, a conversation with Juan Luis Pozo, Director of Sustainability at Global Omnium and head of the GO2 platform, highlights public perception of climate action and the company’s ongoing fight against climate change.
HortiGO2 emerges as a key initiative born from a collaborative effort to protect the local environment. Its aim is to support the Valencia region by balancing the negative impacts of activity with positive, community-focused actions right where they happen.
Is Global Omnium leading the charge against climate change?
It would be easy to dismiss grand claims, yet Global Omnium has a long trajectory of service that underpins daily life. For more than 135 years, the company has delivered essential water services, ensuring that when a tap is opened, the supply is sufficient in both quantity and quality. This leadership rests on the dedication of over 3,000 employees who sustain the organization’s operations. [Cite: Global Omnium internal compilation]
When it comes to leadership on climate action, the intent is to demonstrate a pathway where smaller or resource-constrained entities can collaborate and contribute. The idea is to help communities move forward and safeguard the essential human instinct to pursue a future where economic activity and environmental health can coexist. It suggests that proactive, local efforts can make a meaningful difference even before larger changes arrive. [Cite: GO2 program overview]
Understanding HortiGO2 and its local impact
The discussion centers on HortiGO2 as part of a broader story about transformation. Valencia stands out as a pioneer city that officially calculates and confirms the carbon footprint of tourism. HortiGO2 continues the trend of translating global concepts into local positive impact, emphasizing that offsetting negative effects should occur near the source of activity. The project articulates a simple principle: balance the footprint of actions in a local, tangible way. [Cite: Valencia carbon footprint initiative]
There is concern about misinformation that obscures the importance of the immediate environment in climate action. When rural areas are abandoned and agricultural activity declines, soils that once absorbed carbon may release it, potentially increasing emissions beyond those from industrial activities. This underlines the need to recognize local ecosystems and the role of farming in carbon balance. [Cite: regional environmental studies]
In this view, aiming for carbon neutrality in one aspect of a business does not automatically protect biodiversity. Genuine environmental stewardship requires considering the surrounding ecosystem and maintaining a robust commitment to local sustainability. [Cite: environmental stewardship framework]
Is HortiGO2 the complete solution?
HortiGO2 is not presented as the sole remedy, which would be unrealistic. The project reflects a 135-year-old commitment to the environment and focuses on helping the immediate surroundings of the Valencia orchard. Activities are evaluated within the context of local crops and their unique characteristics, creating a carbon pool rooted in the local landscape. [Cite: GO2 project rationale]
The overarching goal is transparent: those who wish to balance their footprint do so through local, positive impact. For instance, events in cities with sustainability goals can offset emissions by engaging with the Valencia orchard initiative, reinforcing a local, practical approach to environmental responsibility. [Cite: HortiGO2 case study]
About GO2 and HortiGO2
Within Global Omnium, the GO2 technology platform offers a comprehensive 360º approach to sustainability. It includes carbon and water footprint calculations, as well as life cycle analysis. The aim is to provide actionable insights so companies can make informed choices that reduce environmental impact. The idea echoes a modern understanding that measurement drives healing and improvement. [Cite: GO2 platform overview]
Measuring the carbon footprint helps organizations decide where to improve. By comparing the footprint of different products, firms can favor locally produced items or those made with sustainable practices. Calculating the footprint of commuting routes can steer people toward more efficient transportation or offset emissions through carbon-neutral projects. [Cite: sustainability decision-making]
GO2 collaborates with the agrifood cooperative andacoopHE Court of the Waters and several irrigation communities to assess and certify the environmental impact of agricultural products through the HortiGO2 framework. This includes validating methodologies and calculating the capacity to establish absorption rights for Valencia Garden crops, with the aim of monetizing surplus rights through voluntary carbon markets. The emphasis remains on local offset options that support surrounding natural areas and sustainable farming practices. [Cite: HortiGO2 collaboration]
Global Omnium continues to advance these initiatives as part of its ongoing environmental program. [Cite: Global Omnium update]