Neeshad is an Environmentalist, Speaker, and policy-oriented social change advocate, best known for his work on environmental and climate change policy in the Gulf and Middle East. His core area of expertise includes analyzing global environmental, sustainability, and climate policies. An active civil society member and has been a prominent presence at international climate summits, especially the UN Climate Summit (COP) since 2015 in various capacities, including the role of non-state actors in climate action. He holds a master’s degree in Environmental Engineering and is based in Doha, Qatar. He was named in the Apolitical’s List of the 100 Most Influential People in Climate Policy in 2019 and 2022 respectively and was awarded ‘Middle East’s Most Creative People in Business 2023 - Saving the Planet’ Category by Fast Company
Neeshad is a TEDx Speaker and Agenda Contributor for the World Economic Forum. His articles and interviews have appeared in TED, Euro News, France24, Al Jazeera, BBC, Washington Post, Guardian, TRT News, CGTN Français, World Economic Forum Agenda, , The Cairo Review, Anadolu Agency, The Gulf Times, Qatar Tribune, Qatar Today, Peninsula Qatar and others.
Neeshad is currently the Co-Founder of the Arab Youth Climate Movement Qatar and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Middle East Institute, a Youth Fellow at Wilson Center, Alumni of the Global Shapers (Doha Hub) with World Economic Forum, +SocialGood Fellow 2020 by United Nations Foundation; was named by the European Commission as Peace Ambassador to One Young World Summit 2017; a One Young World Ambassador; UNESCO Youth Climate Action Network (YoU-CAN) and Board Member at Climate Action Network (CAN) Arab World; Country Organizer at Earth Hour Qatar.
The April floods that hit the Gulf will impose severe costs on affected areas — and they are a reminder of the urgent need to invest in climate mitigation.
At the UAE's Regional Dialogue for Climate Action Summit, leaders committed to climate issues such as reducing emissions and investing in a green economy.
Plastic pollution cannot be solved by individuals – it demands wide and systemic change. It's time for a global treaty to address this issue at source.
The countries in the MENA region are waking up to the threat posed by climate change, but it also presents an opportunity - because to respond effectively, they must learn to put their di...
Climate change is not high enough on the agenda of most Arab countries, argues Neeshad Shafi - but the region's young people are about to change that.
