Every April 16 , World Entrepreneurship Day is celebrated, a date promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) that recognizes the value of entrepreneurship as a driver for economic, social and environmental progress.
This commemoration puts entrepreneurs at the centre as essential agents of change, capable of transforming global challenges into opportunities through innovation, creativity and commitment to sustainable development.
In this sense, green entrepreneurship continues to gain relevance as a strategic lever to accelerate the ecological transition, mitigate the impacts of climate change and boost the rural environment. People who undertake from an environmental perspective generate more resilient business models, contribute to preserving ecosystems and promote a fairer and more inclusive economy.
According to the GEM Spain Report 2023-2024, entrepreneurial activity in our country continues to rise. 13.5% of the adult population is currently developing or has launched an entrepreneurial project, while 11.2% intend to do so soon, which represents the highest level of potential entrepreneurship since 2012.
However, this positive development coexists with important structural challenges, such as difficulties in accessing financing, the limited perception of opportunities or gender inequality . In this sense, only 6.1% of people who have recently started a business are women, compared to 7.5% of men.
Despite this, women’s intention to start a business has increased, from 8.8% in 2022 to 10.9% in 2023. In addition, entrepreneurship rates among the immigrant population and people with disabilities already exceed the national average, highlighting the need to continue fostering a more diverse and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
SUPPORT FOR GREEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SPAIN
The Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has been promoting green entrepreneurship for more than a decade through the Emprendeverde Network (REV), an initiative of the Empleaverde+ Programme, co-financed by the European Social Fund Plus.
The REV has established itself as the largest support network for green entrepreneurship in Spain, with more than 11,000 members including entrepreneurs, investment entities, academic professionals, representatives of the public sector and civil society organisations, who share the common goal of moving towards a greener, more innovative economy that generates a positive impact.
Since its creation, the REV has carried out more than 120 actions in key areas such as the circular economy, the energy transition or the demographic challenge, in which more than 6,000 people have participated. Through its free services such as the Emprendeverde Itineraries, Mentoring Emprendeverde or the specialised advice Constitute #TuEmpresaVerde, the network has accompanied those who wish to undertake from sustainability and actively contribute to a green recovery.
The Emprendeverde Network stands out for its innovative, integrative and specialized nature, and is aimed at all those people who have a green idea, want to consolidate their company or seek to invest in sustainable businesses.
With a vocation to continue growing and generating alliances, the REV continues to be a benchmark space for entrepreneurship based on a commitment to biodiversity, social justice and ecological transformation.
