The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) has awarded Alessandro Benetton its 2023 Global Lawyer of the Year Award for his “dedication and leadership in promoting sustainable policies as Chairman of Edizione, one of Europe’s leading holding companies.”
Alessandro Benetton received the award from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, who confirmed the commitment of the Italian businessman, at the helm of Edizione from 2022, to promoting the culture of UN environmental, social and governance standards within a wide range of activities. Its companies employ more than 70,000 people worldwide and cover areas ranging from mobility infrastructure with Mundys, to food distribution (Avolta), clothing (United Colors), agriculture and digital services, meeting the challenge of development that does not lead to inequality. But it is distributed equally between women and men and between generations.
The award is in recognition of the strategic approach that Alessandro Benetton has developed over the years by applying the teachings he received at Harvard University from Michael Porter in the activities of 21Invest – the European investment group he founded in 1992 – which the Shared Value Initiative later joined as the world’s first venture capital firm. .
Guterres stressed the businessman’s commitment to promoting United Nations environmental, social and governance standards
It is a path of sustained commitment that has led it to use sustainability as an integral part of the value creation process, investing, again with 21Invest, in companies that have grown and become competitive by improving the economic and social conditions of communities. in which they work.
The award also highlights Benetton’s introduction of a new sustainable business culture at Edizione SPA, through initiatives implemented by companies such as Mundys, the parent company of Infrastructure, whose holding companies present in 24 countries will reduce their assets by half by 2030. Zero no later than 2040 – entrusted by the World Economic Forum to lead the negotiating table to guide the decarbonisation of global air transport.
This result was also obtained on the basis of the results achieved by Aeroporti di Roma, which together with Fiumicino Airport plays a leading role worldwide not only in terms of quality of service – it received five stars from Skytrax and was ranked sixth as the best airport. Airport in Europe for consecutive years, but also for strategic decarbonisation projects, such as Abertis’ commitment to promoting electric mobility through the installation of innovative charging stations in its main networks.
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The UNCA Awards ceremony was held on Friday 15 December at Casa Cipriani in New York, where Sharon Stone was elected Global Citizen of the Year, and Sofia Carson, Global Advocate of the Year for her activities as a UNICEF Ambassador.
The award is given every year to high-level figures working to find solutions to global problems, from conflict resolution to humanitarian aid, from disease control to climate change… Winners in previous editions include President Bill Clinton, Richard Branson, Ted Turner, and Professor Jeffrey Sachs. Nicolas Cage, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Douglas.
“I am honored to receive this recognition for my commitment to sustainable development, just as the important COP28 agreement to phase out fossil fuels by 2050 was reached. It is now up to each one of us to work towards this goal,” Benetton said.
