Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
Qatar-based climate advocate, co-founder, and Executive Director of the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar (AYCMQ), Neeshad Shafi, has been recognised in the inaugural ‘The Independent Climate 100 List 2024.’
The list includes change-making activists, scientists, academics, philanthropists, political leaders, business and tech leaders, and fashion entrepreneurs. According to ‘The Independent’, the people on the list have innovated solutions such as hydrogen storage, sponsoring oceans, discovering plastic-eating bacteria, and revolutionising chemical-free textile dyeing, among others.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is among the most vulnerable to physical climate change impacts, putting human activities and natural systems at high risk. Despite this, a World Bank report last year disclosed that the region remains the smallest recipient of climate change finance worldwide and that existing vulnerabilities and ongoing conflict have put additional strain on the resources of many countries, making the need for environmental actors more apparent.
"This recognition motivates us to work, and I’m honoured to be among presidents, king, global advocates, philanthropists and international advocates who build climate awareness. I think this will help us propagate our work. More importantly, this is a recognition of the region,” Shafi told Qatar Tribune.
Shafi has led a group of renowned climate game-changers through AYCMQ, shedding light on the challenges faced by Arab nations. The organisation has overseen several initiatives in the community, including the carbon footprint tracking application and Earth Talks series, among others.
He added that the recognition amplifies the AYCMQ’s work in Qatar and the region to a global scale, noting that it shows what Qatar’s youth and climate advocacy has to offer.
"This shows that every small actor has its role globally. Our small role in Qatar and the Arab world is so inspirational to be put amongst the other hundreds. Our work has been really recognised, and being amongst influential people also brings responsibility to keep doing what I’ve been doing like building community, business, and youth at the forefront of climate action and how our region can not only be facing impacts of climate change but also find solutions.”
Meanwhile, Shafi, one of the pioneers of climate activism in Qatar and the region, said that while climate change has become mainstream compared to five years ago, it remains a PR tool. He noted that many aspiring young people bring climate issues to light in the region, but some only stay relevant online without doing ‘quantitative and quantitative work’ offline.
"The region is going through a severe period of climate change. We have been seeing flooding and extreme heat this year. The region could feel the brunt of climate activities in the years to come. We must be very serious about adapting to these changes and working on mitigating and reducing emissions.
"Looking at where we are today, that momentum must be amplified. Since the last COP in Dubai and previously in Egypt, the MENA region and the Arab world have been at the forefront in developing climate action and climate advocacy. However, organisations like ours (AYCMQ) have been working with our respective governments to push better action, and I’m sure it will yield fruits in terms of climate action in the coming months and years,” Shafi stressed.