2023 Meeting

The world around us is vast and largely unexplored. From the uncharted depths of our deepest oceans to the ever-expanding universe beyond planet Earth; from the evolving understanding of the human brain to the unknown ways every living organism on earth interact or communicates, humanity is just one small part of an incomprehensibly larger story that spans billions of years and infinite celestial bodies.    To understand the world around us, we stay curious, explore, ask questions. We witness small acts of humanity and big moments of wonder.    A wave of new research suggests there’s more we can – and should – be doing to understand the world around us. Recent scientific studies on human emotion have suggested that being in awe – the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world – can have numerous cognitive, physiological and social benefits; leading management consultancies point to curiosity as the most effective trait for transformational corporate leadership; and early childhood brain scientists confirm that encouraging children to experience the sensation of wonder can help expand their neural pathways.   As we continue to battle our oldest demons – battles of “us” versus “them,” cooperation versus conflict, forward versus backward – and confront new and human-made challenges like climate change and responsibly using artificial intelligence, we must continue to develop new and imaginative ways to unlock the solutions that we have yet to identify. As the CGI community prepares to leave New York City to take action together once again, we must seek opportunities to wonder about what we’ve yet to create or understand; stay curious about what – and who – we don’t yet know; and remain in awe of the people and solutions around us that are working to change the world.

As the CGI community knows, making – and keeping – commitments, isn’t easy. Obstacles arise, global trendlines can disrupt local solutions, and even sustaining the energy and focus to drive projects to completion can waver.    Despite this, we know the antidote is as simple as it is true – you must keep going. From community shelters in Ukraine, to farming cooperatives in Kenya; boardrooms in Manhattan, to food pantries in Appalachia; classrooms in Medellin, to salt flats in India – people around the world wake up every day and make the choice keep going. While these choices individually may be small and focused, taken together, they build the momentum needed to overcome the global challenges we face.    Last year, the CGI community mobilized for the first time in six years to make over 140 Commitments to address global challenges. Just as climate change, economic inequality, growing health disparities, and backsliding for gender equity continue, we must continue to choose action. We must be nimble, focused, and clear-eyed in our objectives. But most importantly, we cannot allow the scale of the challenges we face to overwhelm the solutions we can bring to bear. We must keep going.

Join us for a hybrid session that includes both an open facilitated discussion plus networking, to discuss how to build more diverse funding ecosystems, and how traditional investment circles can expand to be truly inclusive of founders of color. This discussion will explore case studies that show how to move beyond promises and planning, and instead successfully distribute capital to nontraditional founders, demonstrating how equity and diversity is a growth strategy.   

Heatwaves. Flooding. Storms. Food and Water Insecurity. Increased Pollution Exposure. Research is clear that a child’s environment shapes their early development, when the foundations of lifelong learning, health and wellbeing are built. In the face of climate change and increasing crises — heatwaves, flooding, storms, food and water insecurity, and pollution exposure — we must reckon with potentially catastrophic consequences for children’s health and brain development.. While the scale and scope of the challenge is formidable, there are promising solutions that states, communities, and philanthropy are pursuing today. This session will highlight the disproportionate impact climate change is having on young children and families and explore ongoing efforts to promote climate resiliency.

Island states around the world sit on the forefront of climate change, forced to contend with extreme economic, ecological, and social shock. They have begun leading the global charge to implement progressive solutions and mitigation strategies, presenting an opportunity for the global community to learn from, support, replicate, and scale their efforts. On the frontlines of climate change, island states are rapidly writing a new playbook for planning climate resilient communities. Their work has centered cultural diversity in response and resilience efforts. National, state, and territory governments have advanced aggressive policies to promote renewable energy, accelerate ocean conservation, and adopt strategies to spur economic development through local NGOs. Through their efforts, island states are advancing the fight against climate change as the global community learns from, supports, replicates, and scales their best practices.

Cultural tourism is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry, accounting for 40 percent of all international travel. Currently valued at $11.1 trillion, the total tourism market is expected to reach $16.9 trillion by 2030. This growth is substantially driven by government initiatives to promote UNESCO World Heritage Sites as travelers seek world-class destinations to learn, discover, and experience. However, many of these sites are deteriorating due to the impacts of climate change and other factors. Restoring sites could be one of the most scalable, effective, and targeted means of providing economic support to vulnerable communities and unlocking increased tourism revenue. Public-private investment and collaboration will be crucial to scaling solutions. 

Join us for lightly programmed networking designed to help forge connections and partnerships for women entrepreneurs and those organizations supporting female founders.

Pushback against corporate racial equity and inclusion efforts threaten to undermine commitments pledged globally following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, while gender inequity remains stubbornly entrenched and other measures of inequality continue to rise. Despite these challenges, sustained commitment to inclusion and equity has the power to overcome barriers to economic advancement—earning the global economy trillions by empowering workers, communities, and consumers while honoring their race and gender, and as well as age, disability status, and sexual orientation. How are companies and investors seeing their commitments through, and what can be said about the business case for inclusive and equitable economic growth? What is the role of government and society in partnering with the private sector to drive more inclusive economic growth for all? This panel will feature investor, business, and civic leaders on the economic power that comes from creating meaningful change for women, people of color, and underserved communities.

The Nature Conservancy estimates nearly one-third of greenhouse gases can be captured through nature-based solutions like forestry management. The goal of reducing our carbon footprint through offsets is an ideal win-win for both nature and society, but as businesses move to implement these solutions, there is warranted skepticism about the integrity of the proposals and the legitimacy of the promises made by carbon-offset markets. There is also a need to balance the pursuit of carbon neutrality in the global economy with the role and needs of indigenous communities as stewards of the environment. By standardizing best practices for carbon offsets and empowering local and indigenous communities by including them in the decision-making that directly impacts their lives, we can strive for greater transparency and integrity in the carbon-offset market to benefit both forests and people.

There is no one path to becoming a social activist; in fact, all career paths can—and should—lead to advocacy for improving social conditions and paving the way for others to thrive. And in today’s era of global connectivity, everyone has a platform that can be used for the greater good. Social and popular media connects billions of people worldwide every day and can spur movements and incite action for better or for worse. But those individuals with especially large followings—artists, actors, athletes, and other celebrities—are uniquely positioned to shape cultural narratives and inspire change. In turn, community-based organizations, nonprofits, and philanthropists may have much to gain from partnering with influencers who can expand their reach and engage different demographics on important issues. The challenges therein include identifying where, when, how, and why to engage on specific issues, who to partner with, and how to avoid the pitfall of over-committing and under-delivering, without shying away from important social issues altogether. In this session, social justice advocates from a variety of backgrounds share how they have leveraged celebrity and unique strengths to amplify not only their own voices, but the voices of others.

We don’t need to listen to statisticians or political pundits to know the roads that once brought us together to unite us in the face of our most significant challenges are now in disarray. What we need is to repave our roads — in every sense. By pushing past our divisions and reminding ourselves of our shared values and potential for shared prosperity, we can begin to forge new pathways and repave old ones to bring us together once again. In this session, you’ll hear stories from people repaving roads toward unity.

The financial investment to mitigate the climate crisis is staggering with the greatest need in frontline communities. While ongoing conversations are focused on who will bear this immense financial burden, we must support leaders who are taking creative and innovative steps toward climate resilience. Inaction is not an option when there are opportunities to develop partnerships with organizations that have shovel-ready projects and to scale innovative financing models that mobilize capital. There are adaptation and mitigation efforts happening all over the world, yet capital remains a key missing piece.

During recent crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to evacuating people fleeing Afghanistan, informal groups of grassroots activists, NGOs, and concerned citizens have stepped up to provide immediate response – and we need to connect these nascent efforts with established humanitarian systems to have the greatest impact on the ground. Self-organized groups on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine, fighting to evacuate people fleeing Afghanistan, and leveraging formal supply changes during COVID-19 have shown the world extraordinary examples of generosity, tenacity, and care. These responses to crises from groups of grassroots activists, NGOs, and concerned citizens provide critically needed support and solutions – often immediately. As established institutional actors look for ways to maximize their impact during crises, there are opportunities to partner with these informal efforts to fill urgent gaps and build sustainable partnerships.

Every year, more than 20 million people are forced to leave their homes and communities because of climate-related disruptions such as flooding, water scarcity, and soil salinization, and by 2050, that number could reach 1.2 billion. Climate change is a risk and vulnerability multiplier, exacerbating conflict and contributing to displacement on various fronts. As countries around the world contend with climate-induced crises and displacement, it is essential to support at-risk communities beyond immediate disaster relief and look toward providing sustained support for long term mitigation and recovery, like adaptive and sustainable farming practices for a changing climate, relocation plans, and building and rebuilding durable housing. This will require cross-sector collaboration between governments, aid agencies, and the private sector.

Renewable energy — including solar, wind, hydropower, biofuels, and others — is at the center of the transition to less carbon-intensive and more sustainable global energy systems. As the world absorbs a global energy crisis from Russia, renewable energy capacity has grown rapidly in recent years, driven by policy support and sharp cost reductions for solar and wind power in particular. This encouraging trend is expected to accelerate in 2023 and beyond, but it will require continued cooperation to address lower-cost energy security. This session will explore where some of the most promising developments are taking place and examine the factors necessary for their success.

Globally, the ripple effects from the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing forced migration, and a rise in human rights violations have accelerated the mental health crisis. This crisis is only expected to worsen, and providing care to those affected will become even harder. The WHO projects a deficit of 10 million health care professionals worldwide by 2030. Luckily, many communities across the globe are stepping up to the plate to increase access to care; however, this is just one of the hurdles we face. Community stigma, economic mobility, and gender are all contributing factors that must be addressed through locally sustainable treatment options. From partnerships between community stakeholders and medical professionals, to unlikely community and school interventions, it will take all of us to find solutions that ultimately lead to a healthier global community.

Both established philanthropists and new funds are leveraging their giving to promote innovation and systemic change to meet the needs created by urgent challenges. Philanthropy now sits at a critical moment to re-examine what practices drive the greatest progress and change.  Philanthropy has always helped create transformative and systemic change. The work being done to address our most pressing challenges is all being driven to some extent by institutional funding, long-term commitments, and deliberative investments. Charities are also embracing newer models – including strategic time horizons, democratized giving, trust-based philanthropy, and accelerated investments that directly reach individuals and frontline communities. Collaboration and education between new voices and long-established philanthropic institutions have the potential for greater impact and progress.

Forced to cope with unparalleled generational trauma from a young age – from the effects of global conflicts and pandemics to the worsening impact of climate change – Generation Z is emerging as one of the most adaptable, purpose-driven, and creative generations to date. Globally, Gen Z is approximately 30 percent of the population, and in the U.S., they are the most racially and ethnically diverse generation. As Gen Z begins to enter the workforce, there is an opportunity for companies to leverage their resiliency, drive, digital fluency, and social consciousness. However, not all Gen Zs have had equal access to opportunities and experiences. To address those inequities, businesses, organizations, and institutions can create learning initiatives to integrate soft skills and technical development. When coupled with Gen Zs’ innate inclusivity and drive for social change, this will cultivate critical professional skills and create a more dynamic and impactful workforce.

The current medical industry has the most advanced levels of knowledge and treatments in history, and great innovations are imminent. Yet this potential is squandered in the absence of health care workers. 130 countries report a shortage of physicians, and more than 150 have a shortage of nurses and midwives. However, lay health workers, such as community health workers, doulas, birth attendants, mental health advocates, and others have the potential to transform health systems and address workforce gaps. As trusted members of the community, lay health workers provide a wide range of services from routine examinations to birth and pregnancy support, and they often work in the most rural and remote areas, caring for underserved populations. To mitigate the detrimental impact of this labor shortage, we must integrate all health worker roles into health care systems and pay them a living wage.

Session will begin around 3 p.m. ET

The time between birth and 12 weeks should be a time of bonding between mother and baby and physical recovery from birth, but this so-called fourth trimester tends to be the most dangerous. We need to invest in better physical and mental health interventions and economic and social support to help mothers thrive and reduce maternal mortality rates, both during the fourth trimester and the first year postpartum.  The so-called fourth trimester comes with great risks that are often overlooked. From physical health risks to stress and mental health challenges, to gaps in paid leave, this is one of the most underserved periods for many mothers worldwide. Moreover, in the United States, maternal mortality outcomes are significantly worse for women of color than for the general population. We can and must do more to explore strategies and physical and mental health interventions to support mothers economically, physically, and socially during this time and the entire first year postpartum, specifically focusing on underserved populations and those facing disproportionate risks.

As First Lady Rosalynn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in the world — those that have been caregivers, those that are caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers.” The fastest growing sector of work in the world is in the care economy – a patchwork of formal and informal roles spanning childcare to elder and disability care that support over a billion people. These workers help our communities thrive and make up the base of our economic pyramid – but this growth is built on the persistent undervaluing and frequent exploitation of both paid and unpaid care workers who are predominantly women.  We must find solutions to better support, pay, and empower those in the care economy – from community-driven support systems to broad, systemic policy changes. Addressing these challenges can create more economic opportunities for women, promote dignified ways to care for aging populations, support brain development and early-childhood learning, and address a growing mental health crisis exacerbated by poverty, isolation, and loneliness. The foundation of our economy needs to work for everyone, not just those at the top.

The immediate and long-term physical, sexual, and mental consequences for women and girls can be devastating. Exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of gender empowerment, gender-based violence impacts a victim’s family, their community, and the country at large, bearing a tremendous cost from greater strains on health care to legal expenses and losses in productivity. While at least 155 countries have laws on domestic violence and 140 have legislation on workplace sexual harassment, stronger laws are just part of what’s needed. We all have a responsibility to advocate for and implement broad efforts to de-normalize gender-based violence, emphasize boys’ and men’s roles and education, and create and support more safe spaces and essential services to victims.

The media’s ability to deliver news to the public and hold institutions to account has been increasingly under assault, as seen in the imprisonment of the Wall Street Journal’s Evan Gershkovich or the 67 journalists killed globally in 2022, including for coverage of climate change. Threats to the freedom of press span the globe — from censorship in the United States and removing girls from schools in Afghanistan, to the murder of protesters in Iran and half of all journalist deaths occurring across Latin America, often for covering issues such as deforestation or polluters.

Our ability to tackle the greatest global challenges depends on a strong and healthy media and an environment that encourages, not restricts, the free exchange of ideas and information. Journalism probes vital issues and their daily impact on people – from the devastating effects of climate change, conflicts and threats to democracy, systemic challenges in our global health and economic systems, and more. A free press is the leading indicator of the health of democracy where ideas blossom, markets thrive, and people are empowered to make fact-based decisions. And yet, journalists are operating under historic pressures – including actual harm and physical threats.

This session will examine how journalists handle emerging challenges and solutions that demand their attention; how they handle threats to their profession and their livelihoods; and how we can support a vibrant journalism sector.

Includes special remarks by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Today over 300 million people are food insecure – more than double the number in 2020 – due to conflict, climate change, and inflation. From nations around the world to neighborhoods in Manhattan, the global food crisis is upending years of international coordination and progress.   Tactical steps are necessary across the entire food and agricultural spectrum to reverse these alarming trendlines, and we all must find new ways to partner to address both the short- and long-term impacts of the food crisis. Whether it’s the lack of productive land due to climate change, the shrinking livelihood opportunities for famers around the world, or the loss of dignity a parent experiences when struggling to provide food for their child, new approaches are required to fill these voids.    Developing innovative partnerships that meet the moment we’re in is paramount to addressing the food crisis, and begs the question – who else should have a seat at the table?

As Ukrainians continue to fight against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion, they are facing both immediate humanitarian needs and the need to marshal resources and develop strategies for rebuilding a vibrant, sustainable, resilient country post-war. More than a year and a half after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine continues to face a multi-front battle. Ukraine has urgent and critical needs for military, economic, social, and environmental support. Leaders, activists, and organizations are also faced with thinking of what’s next, seeking vital resources for today and long-term commitments to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. This will require dedicated and sustained cross-sector collaboration both now and long into the future.

Oceans cover 70 percent of Earth’s surface and produce at least half of the oxygen we breathe, regulate the climate, provide a source of food and biodiversity, and drive economies around the world. Ocean health is threatened by human activity such as plastic pollution and industrial waste and struggles to gain traction in the international climate space. However, innovators and leaders are establishing marine protected areas, developing debt restructuring programs to allow governments to prioritize the protection of coastal areas, and telling stories to inspire action at the individual and policy levels. We will explore together how to keep this momentum going to protect this vital resource for ourselves and for the planet.

Every year, the impact and influence of student activists grows exponentially. From the frontlines of climate action to advocating against severe human rights violations, young student activists undeniably wield a significant influence over their communities, societal norms, and public policies. Consequently, foundations, corporations, and governments are increasingly working to forge meaningful partnerships and engagement avenues with student entrepreneurs. The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) connects and supports stakeholders with student innovators and early-stage entrepreneurs. This session will showcase the impactful initiatives driven by CGI U commitment-makers, highlight how partners play a role in supporting their initiatives, and offer advice on how to engage with student activists in the social impact space.

The LGBTQ+ community has seen remarkable progress and widespread social acceptance in many countries over the past few decades. In recent years, despite greater social acceptance, the community has faced severe rollbacks of their rights and punishing laws worldwide; a lack of adequate philanthropic support and funding; and hatred ranging from political weaponization and social targeting to hate speech and violence. LGBTQ+ people around the world experience some of the worst discrimination and most significant challenges in simply living their own lives. In the face of these distressing developments, the fight for civil rights worldwide must gain increased momentum, zeal, and demonstrated support from a diverse range of allies to the LGBTQ+ community. This session will highlight the role that each of us can play in defending and advancing the equal human, economic, and social rights of LGBTQ+ people globally.

Extreme heat is causing widespread negative health impacts, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable communities. Cities, as ground zero for the nexus between human health and climate change, are taking action to mitigate its impact and adapt to a warmer future. 2022 was the sixth warmest year since global records began in 1880, and temperatures in 20 percent of the world’s most populated cities are expected to rise by more than 4 degrees Celsius by 2050. Extreme heat is negatively impacting health, especially in the poorest and most vulnerable communities, and it is reaching disaster levels, causing more deaths each year than any other weather-related event in some parts of the world. Municipalities and health care communities in some of the hottest cities are developing and implementing adaptation, awareness, and resilience strategies to address the negative health impacts and reduce urban heat island effects as temperatures rise. Some driving causes of climate change, such as the built environment, housing, and transportation, can also provide potential solutions to reducing heat and improving health outcomes.

Feeding and clothing Earth’s population is a significant agricultural undertaking, but the current mass production of food and clothing is not sustainable. The fashion and apparel industry contributes ten percent of annual global carbon emissions, while food systems produce around 30 percent of emissions. According to the World Wildlife Foundation, a shift to regenerative agriculture could contribute 20 percent of the climate mitigation needed to keep temperature increases below the 1.5°C target, but these sectors are not scaling these practices fast enough. Food and fashion, as two of the widest-reaching and most influential industries, can set sustainable trends and inspire a positive ripple effect while tapping into the consumer demand for sustainably sourced products. Through intentional investment, education, and diverse cross-sector partnerships, we can provide affordable, healthy food and ethically sourced materials without doing further damage to the planet while also benefiting businesses.

When looking for solutions to our most pressing global threats, we often must act quickly to meet the moment by identifying solutions to the most pressing needs. Yet often, these solutions address just the tip of the iceberg. We think we’ve solved the problem, but we’ve perhaps only tackled the most obvious, visible challenge and haven’t taken the time to evaluate the hidden history, systemic root causes, and other barriers, that are perpetuating the issue. Upon examination, we may discover that many of these overlooked elements lie at the intersection of other challenges. In this session, we’ll hear from change makers addressing more than just the tip of the iceberg with their work.  

Join us to hear from select members of the 2023 CGI Greenhouse cohort of entrepreneurs working to make a positive contribution toward solving critical economic challenges. This session will highlight ten startups focused on inclusive economic growth and include brief pitch presentations to a panel of judges on their innovative technology and business models. Winners of each of the three Greenhouse pitch presentation sessions will be announced during the closing mainstage session on Tuesday afternoon. Greenhouse sessions are open to the general CGI audience and are geared toward Fortune 500 companies, large private and corporate foundations, family offices, and impact investors ready to implement their products and services.

The following 2023 Greenhouse cohort members will be presenting during this session:

• Sonny Khan, Paani Project
• Danielle De La Fuente, Amal Alliance
• Kunjpreet Arora, Angirus Ind Pvt Ltd
• Aadhar Bhalinge, AudiVision Technologies
• Jonathan Fife, Bright Feeds
• Byran Dai, Daivergent
• Sanjay Gupta, EnglishHelper Inc
• Lori Shao, Finli Inc
• Gurashish Sahni, ReCircle
• Alex Fisher, Saturn Bioponics

We have never had more knowledge about or better treatment options for cancer. However, despite these incredible medical advances, cancer continues to claim the lives of more than ten million people each year, in part because these lifesaving treatments are not equitably available to all populations. Mortality rates are declining in the wealthiest countries while lower- to middle-income countries are seeing increased rates of cancer without access to the latest breakthroughs in modern oncology to treat patients. While limited resources are a concern, there are opportunities for wiser investments and increased coordination and partnerships between governments, health policy analysts, and community organizations to begin to bridge the care gap and bring lifesaving treatments to underserved populations and communities.

Today’s health supply chain is a complex and highly fragmented global system, causing both developed and developing countries to face drug and medical supply shortages. Driven by factors like compliance and regulations challenges, unpredictable demand and limited raw materials, and geopolitical tensions and natural disasters, this shortage of health care supplies and medications is putting both patients and health care workers in life-threatening situations. Experts agree that increased transparency and improved efficiency will build a more resilient system. To achieve this goal, we will need to leverage technology to modernize the supply chain and explore more localized and lower carbon solutions.

1.8 Billion Futures: How to Secure the Long-term Health and Well-Being of Adolescents and Young People Worldwide

Today’s 1.8 billion adolescents and young people are growing up in a world that is dramatically different from previous generations. It is a world shaped by digitalization, urbanization, and mobility. These changes offer unprecedented opportunities, including access to services and information, learning, employment, and connectivity that fosters and nurtures relationships. However, they also present new challenges, such as the increased risk of depression and anxiety, exposure to (often gender-based) violence and abuse, or experiences of poverty and unhealthy lifestyles, which affect young people’s health and wellbeing now, throughout the course of their lives, and as parents of future generations.

In support of the 1.8 Billion Young People for Change campaign, securing the health and well-being of today’s adolescents and young people requires urgent efforts and deliberate collaboration, investment, and partnership. In this focus on our collective future, everyone has a role to play.

From precision medicine and applications in complex emergencies to deepfakes and generative AI, the benefits – and the risks – of artificial intelligence are widespread and must be managed responsibly. Despite increasing concerns about its governance, artificial intelligence is an emerging reality across nearly every facet of our daily lives. From precision medicine and applications in emergencies to deepfakes and proliferation of misinformation, the benefits – and risks – of AI are widespread and must be managed responsibly. It is estimated that AI could eliminate 300 million full-time jobs, but AI could also enhance our productivity and creativity by optimizing complex processes. Governments, the private sector, and NGOs will need to cautiously balance the tremendous potential AI presents with its challenges and dangers to best leverage this emerging and rapidly growing technology and industry.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for 90 percent of all businesses globally, 50 percent of GDP, and more than 70 percent of the workforce, but they are most vulnerable during economic crises. They also continue to face considerable limitations due to racial and gender inequities that persist across the ecosystem. With the threat of a recession following the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, and widespread economic instability, it is more important than ever to support SMEs and mitigate any future damage to these businesses. Governments, the private sector, philanthropies, and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) provided capital support to SMEs during the pandemic and beyond. By sharing their greatest impact, we can work together to support SMEs with the capital and critical resources needed to thrive during any future economic uncertainty.

There is significant disparity in access to reproductive rights globally, with some countries expanding access while others are rolling back decades-long protections; as global supply chains reckon with ways to continually evolve best practices to meet patients’ needs and serve vulnerable communities. The United States once presented a model for access to safe, legal abortion – but in recent years there has been a sharp decline in access to care culminating in the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. In comparison, reproductive rights have been expanding in other countries, like Thailand and Spain. The global supply chain for abortion services can and must continue to evolve to best meet all patient needs, especially for the most at-risk and in-need communities and populations, from expanded global shipping of abortion medication to mobile and traveling clinics and provider services.

Every day is a choice.

It is the power of what we do with that choice — our commitment to act — that drives the Clinton Global Initiative community to keep going in their work to change the world.

Here’s a first look at our opening film for #CGI2023, featuring Michael Douglas.

We’re not giving up, and we’re not giving in. We have to keep going. Join us. #CGI2023

“We are living through a changing epoch. Only together can we emerge from it better.”

A special conversation between President Clinton and His Holiness Pope Francis via remote link on what it takes to keep going on the most pressing global challenges of our time, like climate change, the refugee crisis, the welfare of children, and the mission and projects of the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital. #cgi2023

UKRAINE: HOW TO ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS TO ADVANCE LONG-TERM RECOVERY AND REBUILDING

As Ukrainians continue to fight against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion, they are facing both immediate humanitarian needs and the need to marshal resources and develop strategies for rebuilding a vibrant, sustainable, resilient country post-war. More than a year and a half after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine continues to face a multi-front battle. Ukraine has urgent and critical needs for military, economic, social, and environmental support. Leaders, activists, and organizations are also faced with thinking of what’s next, seeking vital resources for today and long-term commitments to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. This will require dedicated and sustained cross-sector collaboration both now and long into the future.

HALTING THE BACKSLIDE ON LGBTQ+ RIGHTS: HOW WE CAN MOBILIZE SUPPORT AMID INCREASED POLICY ROLLBACKS, HATE SPEECH, AND VIOLENCE

The LGBTQ+ community has seen remarkable progress and widespread social acceptance in many countries over the past few decades. In recent years, despite greater social acceptance, the community has faced severe rollbacks of their rights and punishing laws worldwide, a lack of adequate philanthropic support and funding, and hatred ranging from political weaponization and social targeting to hate speech and violence. LGBTQ+ people around the world experience some of the worst discrimination and most significant challenges in simply living their own lives. In the face of these distressing developments, the fight for civil rights worldwide must gain increased momentum, zeal, and demonstrated support from a diverse range of allies to the LGBTQ+ community. This session will highlight the role that each of us can play in defending and advancing the equal human, economic, and social rights of LGBTQ+ people globally.

HALTING THE BACKSLIDE ON LGBTQ+ RIGHTS: HOW WE CAN MOBILIZE SUPPORT AMID INCREASED POLICY ROLLBACKS, HATE SPEECH, AND VIOLENCE

The LGBTQ+ community has seen remarkable progress and widespread social acceptance in many countries over the past few decades. In recent years, despite greater social acceptance, the community has faced severe rollbacks of their rights and punishing laws worldwide, a lack of adequate philanthropic support and funding, and hatred ranging from political weaponization and social targeting to hate speech and violence. LGBTQ+ people around the world experience some of the worst discrimination and most significant challenges in simply living their own lives. In the face of these distressing developments, the fight for civil rights worldwide must gain increased momentum, zeal, and demonstrated support from a diverse range of allies to the LGBTQ+ community. This session will highlight the role that each of us can play in defending and advancing the equal human, economic, and social rights of LGBTQ+ people globally.

HALTING THE BACKSLIDE ON LGBTQ+ RIGHTS: HOW WE CAN MOBILIZE SUPPORT AMID INCREASED POLICY ROLLBACKS, HATE SPEECH, AND VIOLENCE

The LGBTQ+ community has seen remarkable progress and widespread social acceptance in many countries over the past few decades. In recent years, despite greater social acceptance, the community has faced severe rollbacks of their rights and punishing laws worldwide, a lack of adequate philanthropic support and funding, and hatred ranging from political weaponization and social targeting to hate speech and violence. LGBTQ+ people around the world experience some of the worst discrimination and most significant challenges in simply living their own lives. In the face of these distressing developments, the fight for civil rights worldwide must gain increased momentum, zeal, and demonstrated support from a diverse range of allies to the LGBTQ+ community. This session will highlight the role that each of us can play in defending and advancing the equal human, economic, and social rights of LGBTQ+ people globally.

Freedom is essential to the quality of life. Ai Weiwei joins #CGI2023 to share why we must keep going to secure this fundamental right for all.

Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton’s women and girls to-do list:

💵 Close the wage gap
🧑‍⚕️ Protect and expand access to reproductive health care
📚 Secure education for all
❌ Stop gender-based violence
♻️ Act on the climate crisis
🫶 End bigotry, discrimination, racism, & misogyny

We’ve got no time to waste. #CGI2023

Keep Going

As the CGI community knows, making – and keeping – commitments, isn’t easy. Obstacles arise, global trendlines can disrupt local solutions, and even sustaining the energy and focus to drive projects to completion can waver.   Despite this, we know the antidote is as simple as it is true – you must keep going. From community shelters in Ukraine to farming cooperatives in Kenya; boardrooms in Manhattan, to food pantries in Appalachia, classrooms in Medellin, to salt flats in India – people around the world wake up every day and make the choice to keep going. While these choices, individually, may be small and focused, taken together, they build the momentum needed to overcome the global challenges we face.   Last year, the CGI community mobilized for the first time in six years to make over 140 Commitments to address global challenges. Just as climate change, economic inequality, growing health disparities, and backsliding for gender equity continue, we must continue to choose action. We must be nimble, focused, and clear-eyed in our objectives. But most importantly, we cannot allow the scale of the challenges we face to overwhelm the solutions we can bring to bear. We must keep going.

SPECIAL SESSION: A CONVERSATION BETWEEN SECRETARY CLINTON AND SECRETARY YELLEN

UKRAINE: HOW TO ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS TO ADVANCE LONG-TERM RECOVERY AND REBUILDING

As Ukrainians continue to fight against Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion, they are facing both immediate humanitarian needs and the need to marshal resources and develop strategies for rebuilding a vibrant, sustainable, resilient country post-war. More than a year and a half after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine continues to face a multi-front battle. Ukraine has urgent and critical needs for military, economic, social, and environmental support. Leaders, activists, and organizations are also faced with thinking of what’s next, seeking vital resources for today and long-term commitments to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. This will require dedicated and sustained cross-sector collaboration both now and long into the future.

An excerpt from a conversation at #CGI2023 with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation.

Human rights activist Eddie Ndopu introduces himself to the CGI community.

#CGI2023

One of the most important things to come out of the Clinton Global Initiative has been the mountain of evidence that what really works in the modern world is partnership.

It’s a fact that diverse groups make better decisions than homogenous ones or lone geniuses. That’s because we learn things from people who know things we don’t and who may view the world differently than we do.

You start seeing some amazing things, like a movie star with a passion for giving back joining forces with a sanitation engineer to form one of the most impactful clean water NGOs in the world. Or the trade organization that represents laundromats across America teaming up with my Foundation’s early learning initiative to encourage parents to read with their children while they wait for their laundry.

The model works. More than 10,000 organizations have been part of the Commitments to Action made at CGI. And now, the idea that working together beats going it alone has taken root well beyond our CGI community.

What are Clinton Global Initiative’s (CGI) “Commitments to Action”?

Commitments to Action are new, specific, and measurable projects and programs to address a pressing global challenge. They’re examples of what CAN be done and HOW you can do it.

And the commitments people make at CGI really do matter. First, each commitment helps address an urgent challenge. But perhaps even more important is that they are done in a way that models the kind of behavior that supports democracy and strengthens our societies—that argues for why cooperation is better than conflict and inclusion is better than division.

Some people may say, “Oh, you’re making incremental change.” But if you look at the commitments in the aggregate, there’s nothing incremental about reaching half a billion people in 180 countries. It’s not incremental change for the child who can go to school for the first time, or the person who can access life-saving health care, or who can start a business to support their family and lift up their community. It’s transformational.

Every time someone makes and keeps a commitment and does something that’s other-directed, it adds another stone to the scale on the side of hope and progress. Eventually, you add enough stones, and the scales start to tip in the right direction.

What is the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), and how does it work?

CGI started because, after a lifetime of attending meetings where people just talked about big problems and then went home, President Bill Clinton thought we should have a meeting where everyone who participated was asked to commit to actually doing something about those problems.

We would bring together a community of doers from a broad cross-section of society—the public sector, private sector, and big and small NGOs from all around the world—and then, we would ask everyone to publicly commit to specific actions to address our biggest challenges. All we asked was that everyone try to do something.

It turned out there was a hunger for the chance to create change and to do it with partners who might otherwise never have the opportunity to work together. And because of that, there have now been more than 4,000 Commitments to Action that have improved the lives of nearly 500 million people in more than 180 countries around the world.

President Bill Clinton was asked this question, and here is how he responded:

“I think people come to CGI because they just want to start making good things happen. I think people get frustrated reading every day about how bad this, that, and the other thing is.

Most people, in the face of trying times, want to be able to look our kids and grandkids in the eye and say, “We did our best. Here’s what was better when we quit than when we started. Here are the young people who have a better future. Here’s what we did to try to hold things together while other people were trying to blow us apart.”

That’s the best any of us can do, and it’s why we keep going – why we keep bringing people together and challenging each other to do more, to drive progress, and to build a future we can all be proud to share.”

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska received the Clinton Global Citizen Award for her awe-inspiring leadership and service to Ukrainians and democracy everywhere.

At the Clinton Global Initiative 2023 Meeting, Albert Bourla shared how his team powered through impossible odds to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. Watch more at the link in our bio.

For nearly two years, the world has stood in awe of the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people.

This conflict, and efforts to rebuild Ukraine when the fighting stops, will be a years-long project. That’s why @ClintonGlobal is proud to announce the launch of the CGI Ukraine Action Network to sustain a deliberate, international focus on Ukraine, its people, and its future.

Padma Lakshmi shared what’s at stake in the fight against the global food crisis.

Mainstage Session: A SEAT AT THE TABLE

Today, over 300 million people are food insecure – more than double the number in 2020 – due to conflict, climate change, and inflation. From nations around the world to neighborhoods in Manhattan, the global food crisis is upending years of international coordination and progress. Tactical steps are necessary across the entire food and agricultural spectrum to reverse these alarming trendlines, and we all must find new ways to partner to address both the short- and long-term impacts of the food crisis. Whether it’s the lack of productive land due to climate change, the shrinking livelihood opportunities for famers around the world, or the loss of dignity a parent experiences when struggling to provide food for their child, new approaches are required to fill these voids. Developing innovative partnerships that meet the moment we’re in is paramount to addressing the food crisis, and begs the question – who else should have a seat at the table?

WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS: HOW TO PROVIDE ABORTION CARE IN A POST-DOBBS WORLD

There is a significant disparity in access to reproductive rights globally, with some countries expanding access while others are rolling back decades-long protections, as global supply chains reckon with ways to continually evolve best practices to meet patients’ needs and serve vulnerable communities. The United States once presented a model for access to safe, legal abortion – but in recent years, there has been a sharp decline in access to care culminating in the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. In comparison, reproductive rights have been expanding in other countries, like Thailand and Spain. The global supply chain for abortion services can and must continue to evolve to best meet all patient needs, especially for the most at-risk and in-need communities and populations, from expanded global shipping of abortion medication to mobile and traveling clinics and provider services.

Reverend Barber, Founding Director, Repairers of the Breach & the Yale Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, asks why there is no surgeon general warning on low-wage jobs?

Reverend Barber, Founding Director, Repairers of the Breach & the Yale Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, delivers an impassioned plea to #CGI2023 attendees to “keep on keepin’ on.”

Reverend Barber, Founding Director, Repairers of the Breach & the Yale Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, says we have to help people in time of crisis, and we have to face what causes the crisis in the first place.

Chef José Andrés shares his recipe for the future.

A Seat at the Table

Today, over 300 million people are food insecure – more than double the number in 2020 – due to conflict, climate change, and inflation. From nations around the world to neighborhoods in Manhattan, the global food crisis is upending years of international coordination and progress. Tactical steps are necessary across the entire food and agricultural spectrum to reverse these alarming trendlines, and we all must find new ways to partner to address both the short- and long-term impacts of the food crisis. Whether it’s the lack of productive land due to climate change, the shrinking livelihood opportunities for farmers around the world, or the loss of dignity a parent experiences when struggling to provide food for their child, new approaches are required to fill these voids. Developing innovative partnerships that meet the moment we’re in is paramount to addressing the food crisis and begs the question – who else should have a seat at the table?

The Power of Narrative: How to Inspire Social Change by Transforming Perspective

THE POWER OF NARRATIVE: HOW TO INSPIRE SOCIAL CHANGE BY TRANSFORMING PERSPECTIVE

There is no one path to becoming a social activist; in fact, all career paths can—and should—lead to advocacy for improving social conditions and paving the way for others to thrive. And in today’s era of global connectivity, everyone has a platform that can be used for the greater good. Social and popular media connect billions of people worldwide every day and can spur movements and incite action for better or for worse. But those individuals with especially large followings—artists, actors, athletes, and other celebrities—are uniquely positioned to shape cultural narratives and inspire change. In turn, community-based organizations, nonprofits, and philanthropists may have much to gain from partnering with influencers who can expand their reach and engage different demographics on important issues. The challenges therein include identifying where, when, how, and why to engage on specific issues, who to partner with, and how to avoid the pitfall of over-committing and under-delivering without shying away from important social issues altogether. In this session, social justice advocates from a variety of backgrounds share how they have leveraged celebrity and unique strengths to amplify not only their own voices but the voices of others.

LEVELING THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER: HOW TO FORGE INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS IN HARD TO REACH PLACES

We have never had more knowledge about or better treatment options for cancer. However, despite these incredible medical advances, cancer continues to claim the lives of more than ten million people each year, in part because these lifesaving treatments are not equitably available to all populations. Mortality rates are declining in the wealthiest countries, while lower- to middle-income countries are seeing increased rates of cancer without access to the latest breakthroughs in modern oncology to treat patients. While limited resources are a concern, there are opportunities for wiser investments and increased coordination and partnerships between governments, health policy analysts, and community organizations to begin to bridge the care gap and bring lifesaving treatments to underserved populations and communities.