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Iberdrola’s Executive Chairman, Ignacio Galán, today joined UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council. Launched by the UN Secretary-General at the 2018 UN General Assembly, and run by UNICEF, Generation Unlimited is a global Public-Private-Youth Partnership, seeking to connect millions of young people around the world with opportunities for training, empowerment, employment and social entrepreneurship.

At a meeting in New York, on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly, discussions and debate centred on how to help prepare the next generation for a green and digital future. Topics on the agenda included how the rise of AI and the green transition are shaping the future of work.

The Leadership Council is co-chaired by Catherine M. Russell, Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Bob Moritz, Chairman, PwC.  The council is comprised of a diverse mix of business leaders, representatives from NGOs and charities, and government officials. 

Ignacio Galán, Iberdrola’s Executive Chairman, said: “We are in the midst of a green revolution, which is accelerating every day.  Renewable energy is good for the planet, and the investment behind that offers vast opportunities for employment and skills development. We need people from every country and background to deliver the clean energy of the future. For vulnerable young people, getting access to those opportunities can be a challenge. The work of UNICEF and all the partners in Generation Unlimited will help to breakdown those barriers. It is an honour to join the leadership council and to be part of a programme that will help so many people.” 

As part of Generation Unlimited, Iberdrola is specifically supporting a programme in Brazil called the 1Million Opportunities (1MiO), which is designed to help vulnerable young people in the country's labor market, enhancing their skills, job opportunities and green employment. The company is also supporting the UPSHIFT innovation programme being led by UNICEF in Somalia, which seeks to train young people who are victims of violence and at risk of exclusion in innovation and social entrepreneurship.

Iberdrola’s broader alliance with UNICEF also includes providing digital content and learning materials on climate change and sustainability to 'Learning Passport', UNICEF's global learning platform. This platform enables continuous access to quality education for children and young people around the world.

In Spain, Iberdrola is also supporting 'Generation Unlimited España', a new multi-stakeholder alliance also designed to support vulnerable young people. Iberdrola is helping to design training courses that offer young people the necessary skills to play a role in the energy transition.