National Geographic Channel, the television channel linked to the world’s largest not-for-profit organisation, and Endesa, Spain’s largest electricity company, one of the key industry players in Europe and the premier private power company in Latin America, have decided to join forces to produce a one-hour documentary on the impact of climate change in Spain. The documentary will be shot this summer in several areas of Spain and will be broadcast on the National Geographic Channel in the autumn. The documentary is one of a range of initiatives aimed at raising awareness of and protecting the natural environment under a cooperation agreement between the two companies.

“We are very satisfied to have formed this partnership with Endesa since it is important to enjoy the backing of a major energy company which is demonstrating that it too can do something for the environment. In this instance, by providing resources to bring this message to the Spanish public in the form of a documentary. Endesa is committed to the future and the protection of our environment in keeping with the philosophy of the National Geographic Society. The Company’s chief mission today is to raise awareness of climate change and the importance of protecting the environment for future generations. To this end it is deploying its full array of print and audiovisual media”, said Sydney Suissa, Executive Vice President, Content for National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) and the channel’s worldwide head of television programming.

“Climate change is without doubt the greatest challenge our society currently faces, but it cannot be tackled in isolation. At Endesa we are convinced that we face a global challenge that raises questions about fundamental aspects of our social behaviour and economic model. And a global challenge requires global solutions,” added Pío Cabanillas, Endesa’s General Manager of Communication.

“This is why our current priority is to contribute to the development of a new sustainable global energy model that takes into account not just the fight against climate change but also all the social, economic and environmental problems that it will be necessary to overcome to safeguard the well-being of future generations, i.e. that of our children’s children. Raising public awareness is a key aspect of this task and Endesa is keen to demonstrate the public commitment it has made to sustainable development in the form of specific initiatives  This cooperation agreement with National Geographic Society, by virtue of the seriousness of its objectives and our common philosophy for the future, provides a perfect opportunity to fully inform our society about the challenge posed by climate change,” Pío Cabanillas continues.

National Geographic Channel and Endesa have agreed to transmit a message of hope in relation to the environment based on a clear commitment to conservation, to humankind and its future. This involves making available the means at our disposal to ensure the survival of our natural resources.

“We want to convey a constructive message about the environment,” emphasised Sydney Suissa. “The mission of the National Geographic Channel and of the National Geographic Society is to inspire people to take a greater interest in caring for the planet and to work conscientiously to safeguard our natural heritage. For us the priority at present is to view humankind as the beneficiary of the environmental legacy for which we are fighting,” he continued.

The documentary is built around this idea and will focus on the impact of climate change in Spain, but without neglecting to mention what can, and is being, done, especially by the energy sector, to prevent the further  degradation of certain areas. This is an undertaking to which Endesa is also totally committed.

The documentary will be entirely Spanish-made, with the independent production company TACH Producciones carrying out filming for broadcast on the National Geographic Channel. Shooting will get underway in July and will take place over a five-week period in different areas of the country. The documentary will also enjoy the support of the international programming department in Washington DC, which will monitor progress with a view to broadcasting it on other National Geographic international channels.

The film crew will visit places including natural enclaves in need of special protection such as the Cíes Isles, off the coast of Pontevedra in Galicia; the Monte Perdido glacier in Aragón; the Sierra Nevada mountains and a number of small mountain lakes, also in the Aragonese Pyrenees, where Endesa is currently involved in clean-up work.

The two companies will also demonstrate their commitment to the environment by supporting a number of other projects that reflect their shared vision of the environment as an investment for future generations.

About NGCI

National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) invites viewers to re-think the way they see television—and the world—with smart, innovative programming. A business enterprise owned by National Geographic Television & Film (NGT&F), Fox Entertainment Group and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), NGCI contributes to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education. Globally, National Geographic Channel (including NGC U.S. which is a joint venture of NGT&F and Fox Cable Networks Group) is available in over 290 million homes in 164 countries and 27 languages. In Spain it is available via Digital+, ONO, Imagenio, R, Euskaltel, Orange TV and Jazztelia TV.

About Endesa

Endesa is one of the largest electricity companies in Europe and a key player in the global industry.  It is the leading electricity company in Spain, the premier private electricity company in Latin America and also has a strong position in the Spanish natural gas market. Endesa has installed capacity of 49,000 MW, with 23.5 million customers and 24,500 employees. The world's seventh largest utility by enterprise value, the company owns assets valued at Euro 48 billion.

At Endesa, we have decided to invest in a sustainable corporate model. Our business strategy, focused on customer service, incorporates the group's concern not only for the environment, but also for the development of human capital, the preservation of the area in which our installations are located and the social development of the countries in which we operates, thus contributing to improving the well-being and real progress of current and future generations.