Highlights from the 2022 Global Citizen Awards

Rewatch the event

2022 Honorees

On September 19, 2022 in New York City, the Atlantic Council presented the Global Citizen Awards.

The dinner salutes leaders—from heads of state and business leaders to award-winning artists, actors, and actresses—who have demonstrated outstanding and unique contributions to the transatlantic relationship and the health of our global community. Each year, on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly week in New York, the event brings together a high-level international audience including current and former world leaders.

Below, check out the highlights from our celebration of global citizens making a difference.

2022 Honorees

H.E. Sauli Niinistö

President of the Republic of Finland

INTRODUCED BY: H.E. Anniken Huitfeldt

ACCEPTED BY: H.E. Pekka Haavisto

https://twitter.com/AtlanticCouncil/status/1572019921508532224?s=20&t=M5XUhA4D2xe7kPqs0tWzOQ

“For many decades, Finland and Sweden had foreign policies based on neutrality and nonalignment,” explains Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway @AHuitfeldt.

“Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine changed this.”

Watch the 2022 Global Citizen Awards live: https://t.co/VnN8Abl09L pic.twitter.com/n8E4M58wuo
— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) September 20, 2022

“For more than six decades, the @AtlanticCouncil has worked to strengthen the transatlantic bond,” says President @niinisto of Finland at #ACAwards.

“The mission of the Atlantic Council—shaping the global future together—now has an urgent ring to it.”

➡️ https://t.co/VnN8Abkskd pic.twitter.com/mkg7THEAxg
— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) September 20, 2022

H.E. Joko Widodo

President of the Republic of Indonesia

INTRODUCED BY: Klaus Schwab

ACCEPTED BY: H.E. Retno Marsudi

https://twitter.com/AtlanticCouncil/status/1572051371653840897?s=20&t=cNbrTpqhTNzCEV3iacPT4Q

H.E. Magdalena Andersson

Prime Minister of Sweden

INTRODUCED BY: H.E. Anniken Huitfeldt

ACCEPTED BY: H.E. Ann Linde

“What is at stake is not only people’s lives and the statehood of Ukraine, but also the entire international system that was created after World War II to promote freedom, peace, and prosperity,” Swedish Foreign Minister @AnnLinde says at #ACAwards.

➡️ https://t.co/VnN8Abl09L pic.twitter.com/OK2Gcm1093
— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) September 20, 2022

Sundar Pichai

CEO, Google and Alphabet

INTRODUCED BY: Klaus Schwab

“More than 20 years ago, I immigrated to the US,” says @Google and Alphabet CEO @sundarpichai at the 2022 Global Citizen Awards.

“When I arrived, I was met with open-mindedness, tolerance, and acceptance, all of which helped ease my path.” #ACAwards ➡️ https://t.co/VnN8Abl09L pic.twitter.com/BLzjDqqHlX
— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) September 20, 2022

“I also want to say a sincere thanks to @FredKempe and the @AtlanticCouncil for the important work you do to shape our global future,” says @Google and Alphabet CEO @sundarpichai at the 2022 #ACAwards.

“Thank you for bringing us together tonight.”

➡️ https://t.co/VnN8Abkskd pic.twitter.com/IIq1KvylDd
— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) September 20, 2022

Forest Whitaker

Academy Award-winning actor, founder and CEO of the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative, and UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Reconciliation

INTRODUCED BY: Hans Vestberg

“What is peace? Is it simply the absence of violence? Or does enduring peace require more than that?”

Listen to Academy Award–winner and @UNESCO Special Envoy @ForestWhitaker speak at the 2022 Global Citizen Awards.

Watch #ACAwards here: https://t.co/VnN8Abkskd pic.twitter.com/viREsWy5Ix
— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) September 20, 2022

In memory

Special tribute

H.E. Shinzō Abe

Former Prime Minister of Japan

At tonight's #ACAwards, the @AtlanticCouncil and world leaders paid tribute to Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister of Japan, after his passing in July.

His dedication to serving his country and people will be remembered around the world. pic.twitter.com/u77DfYTUQ4
— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) September 20, 2022

Special tribute

Queen Elizabeth II

https://twitter.com/AtlanticCouncil/status/1572030729827090434

Coverage

Playlist

Highlights from the 2022 Global Citizen Awards

New Atlanticist Sep 19, 2022

The 2022 Global Citizen Awards: Honoring the bridge-builders and peacemakers in a time of war

The Atlantic Council’s annual gala honored three world leaders, an Academy Award-winning artist, Google’s CEO, and the strength of the transatlantic relationship.

Transcript Sep 19, 2022

Full transcript: The Atlantic Council’s 2022 Global Citizen Awards

By Atlantic Council

Since February, the transatlantic community has rallied behind Ukraine—and strengthened the alliance. Our Global Citizen Awards honor the leaders behind it all.

Conflict Human Rights