Ignacio Galán, the Executive Chairman of Iberdrola and Chairman of AVANGRID, was yesterday (13th April) presented with the prestigious Medal of Honor from the World Jurist Association, at an event held in the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Mr. Galán was recognized for the leadership he has shown in the promotion of clean energy and ESG + F (Environmental, Social & Governance + Financial Performance) principles. The award was presented by Dr. Ernest Moniz, the 13th United States Secretary of Energy. He served in post between 2013 and 2017 and was credited with advancing American leadership in science and clean energy technology innovation.
Introducing Galán, Dr Moniz noted that, as an engineer, Ignacio Galán set out to change the electricity industry and that the strong commitment Iberdrola made to renewables more than two decades ago showed vision and commitment. He stated that the award recognized a pioneer in the renewable energy revolution, describing Galán as a “planetary and corporate hero”.
Accepting the award, Ignacio Galán, said: “As an engineer, I am honored to receive this prestigious award from such a distinguished law institution. For more than two decades, Iberdrola has been focused on delivering a cleaner, more secure, and efficient energy system. Our strategy is based on transparency, teamwork, responsibility, and professionalism, with ESG+F principles as our foundation.
“The successful transition to a cleaner energy model will require the active participation of all administrations, institutions, companies, and civil society. Iberdrola will remain fully committed to helping to deliver the energy transition, to creating value for all, and to ensuring best practices in corporate governance and rule of law.”
Other Medal of Honor recipients included Stephen Breyer, Retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, who was introduced by Bill Clinton, the 42nd president of the United States. Previous recipients of awards from the WJA include King Felipe VI of Spain, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, and Christine Lagarde, president of the European Central Bank.
The World Jurist Association, founded in 1963, is a non-governmental organization with special consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The organization is dedicated to pursuing “a world ruled by law, not force” and works closely with governments, non-governmental organizations, and international associations to foster a cooperative dialogue on world peace.
Iberdrola’s focus on renewable energy and smart grid networks has placed it at the forefront of the energy transition. In the last two decades, the company has grown from the 20th largest electricity utility in the world, to the second largest by market cap, at the same time as leading the industry in climate ambition with a focus on the creation of a social dividend for all stakeholders.
The company has invested over €140 billion during Galán’s tenure, closing all of its 17 coal and fuel oil capacity across the world and establishing an industry leading renewable energy capacity of 40,000 megawatts (MW).
The €47 billion of investments planned between 2023 and 2025 will underpin the company’s ambitious Climate Action Plan. Iberdrola aims to achieve carbon neutrality for scopes 1 and 2 by 2030 and net-zero emissions before 2040 for all scopes.
About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, AVANGRID owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, AVANGRID owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens. In 2023, AVANGRID ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2023 for the fifth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. AVANGRID is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com.
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