Venice Climate Week 2026: Generali brings sustainability and climate dialogue to the Procuratie

Generali and The Human Safety Net took part as founding partners in Venice Climate Week 2026, helping launch the week at the Procuratie in St. Mark’s Square and bringing the Group’s sustainability strategy into the international dialogue on climate change, resilience and regenerative economic models.
 

Venice Climate Week 2026: a global platform on climate and water

From 3 to 8 June, Venice once again became a global meeting point for institutions, businesses, scientists and cultural voices with the second edition of Venice Climate Week – “Planet Aqua, Planet Peace”.

Organised by the Future Food Institute and part of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (UN Ocean Decade), the initiative put water at the centre of the conversation on climate change – not just as a resource, but as a strategic lens to rethink cities, economies and resilience. 

Across the city’s most iconic locations, including The Home of The Human Safety Net in St. Mark’s Square, discussions unfolded around resilience, climate adaptation, and regenerative development.

From dialogue to action: voices shaping the sustainability agenda

Throughout the week, Generali contributed to the dialogue with speakers from across the Group, reflecting different angles of the sustainability agenda and reinforcing its role in international climate dialogue.

The programme opened on 3 June with Chairman Andrea Sironi, who set the tone for the week. On the same day, Lucia Silva, Group Chief Sustainability Officer, joined discussions on the role of finance in enabling responsibility and long-term impact. 

On 5 June, Group General Manager Marco Sesana opened the last day of the third and last day hosted at the Procuratie while Emma Ursich, CEO of The Human Safety Net and Generali Group Head of Corporate Identity, opened the day, with Ursich contributing to the discussion on regenerative economic models and the role of partnerships in driving change.

Finally, on 8 June, Lucia Silva took part in the session “Water as strategic infrastructure”, alongside Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Circular Economy, bringing the focus to the systemic role of water in shaping future economies.

Alongside Generali, the event gathered leading figures including Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security; Alberto Stefani, President of the Veneto Region; Simone Venturini, Mayor of Venice; Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever; and economist Jeremy Rifkin, confirming Venice Climate Week as a platform for high-level, cross-sector dialogue.

Generali’s sustainability strategy

Generali’s presence at Venice Climate Week reflects a long-standing commitment to sustainability, which is embedded at the core of the Group’s strategy and business model.

Sustainability acts as a key driver of decision-making, guiding the Group’s ambition to create long-term value for people, communities and the environment, while contributing to a more resilient and inclusive society.

This approach translates into four interconnected roles:

• Responsible insurer, supporting clients in the transition towards more sustainable and resilient models
• Responsible investor, integrating sustainability criteria into investment choices and increasing investments in climate solutions
• Responsible employer, fostering inclusion, diversity and workforce transformation
• Responsible corporate citizen, contributing to communities resilience through The Human Safety Net

At the same time, Generali focuses on key global challenges, including climate change, demographic shifts and workforce transformation, supporting adaptation, resilience, and a green and just growth.

This commitment is also reflected in concrete initiatives, such as SME EnterPRIZE, which supports small and medium-sized enterprises in their sustainable transition, and in partnerships like the one with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), aimed at integrating advanced climate data and expertise into risk assessment models.

This approach strengthens Generali’s ability to anticipate and manage climate-related risks, contributing to addressing the protection gap and supporting the resilience of communities and businesses in a rapidly changing environment.

Driving partnerships for a sustainable future

Events like Venice Climate Week are opportunities to build connections across sectors and geographies. By contributing to this platform, Generali reinforces its role in fostering dialogue between finance, institutions and society, helping shape solutions that respond to climate challenges while supporting sustainable and inclusive growth.