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

On May 4, 2023, SilverLining’s Global Young Leaders Initiative (GYLI) convened its annual youth summit under the urgent and globally resonant theme “Can We Keep 1.5°C Alive?” The gathering brought together youth leaders, climate scientists, advocates, and international policymakers to foster an open, inclusive dialogue around climate intervention, with a strong emphasis on elevating the lived realities and voices of young people from vulnerable regions.

Among the featured speakers was Neeshad Shafi (Qatar), Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Arab Youth Climate Movement. Shafi spoke powerfully about the Middle East’s unique climate challenges, emphasizing that for many in the region, climate crisis is not a future threat—it is a daily reality. With worsening water scarcity and rising temperatures, he pointed to World Bank data showing that nearly 47% of youth in the region will be directly impacted by water stress.

"We don’t need a disaster to wake up,” he stated. “We are already living in one."

Shafi called for immediate and innovative technological solutions to address water shortages and rising heat, underscoring the region’s urgent need for climate resilience strategies. His remarks highlighted a broader truth shared by many participants: the 1.5°C goal is not just a scientific target—it’s a lifeline, especially for communities on the frontlines of climate change.

The summit reaffirmed the role of young leaders as both witnesses to climate impacts and agents of change, and it emphasized the need for inclusive, regionally responsive interventions in the global climate conversation.