SilverLining’s Global Young Leaders Initiative (GYLI) – Youth Summit 2023
Theme: “Can We Keep 1.5°C Alive?”
Date: May 4, 2023

SilverLining’s Global Young Leaders Initiative (GYLI) convened its annual youth summit on May 4, 2023, under the theme “Can We Keep 1.5°C Alive?” The event brought together emerging youth leaders, climate scientists, policymakers, and advocates from around the world to engage in a collaborative dialogue centered on equitable climate intervention strategies and the role of youth in shaping a resilient future.

Keynote speakers included Kelly Wanser (USA), Executive Director of SilverLining, and Neeshad Shafi (Qatar), Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Arab Youth Climate Movement.

A central theme that emerged from the discussion was the persistent and under-addressed funding gap for climate researchers from the Global South. Despite a wealth of talent and critical regional expertise, researchers in these regions often lack access to sustainable funding pathways, grant opportunities, and infrastructure that allow them to pursue independent, locally rooted research agendas.

Panelists highlighted the structural inequities that force many young researchers to relocate abroad for advanced study, often without clear avenues to return and continue meaningful work in their home countries. The summit called for a transformative shift in climate research funding—one that recognizes and supports the autonomy and vision of Global South researchers. Speakers urged for expanded scholarships, regional fellowships, and equitable grant mechanisms that enable young scientists to both learn abroad and contribute meaningfully at home.

The summit reaffirmed the importance of centering youth voices and Global South perspectives in global climate discourse—especially in high-bar areas like climate intervention research—ensuring that solutions are co-created, locally relevant, and globally supported.