September 23-24, 2024
Taking action on the world’s most pressing challenges, together
The Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) community reconvened September 23-24, 2024 in New York City for the 2024 Annual Meeting. Timed to coincide with the U.N. General Assembly, CGI brings together business, government, and civil society leaders to drive progress on climate resilience, inclusive economic growth and recovery, health equity, the full participation of women and girls, and humanitarian response efforts to crises around the globe. Catch up on moments you might have missed
Stay up to date with the latest news and stories from the CGI community.
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As the CGI community meets once again in New York City, the global challenges we face are stark – and current efforts to meet the moment are coming up short at the scale needed to beat the negative trendlines we face.
We all know what’s not working. Our efforts to curb climate change aren’t accelerating fast enough; mis- and dis-information campaigns are influencing elections around the planet; health inequities are rising; and more people are falling into poverty than climbing out of it. Every morning, headlines read of more conflict and less cooperation.
But in corners of the planet near and far, there’s a different story unfolding – a story of persistence, innovation, and partnership. A story of what is working.
At the onset of this year’s United Nations General Assembly, we all have a responsibility to move beyond a focus on what’s broken. We all have a responsibility to identify, uplift, and scale the solutions that are defying the odds. We all have the responsibility to act with urgency and get to work because our future depends on it.
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While philanthropy has endeavored to reach historically marginalized communities for generations, these efforts are less effective when donors chase headlines or demonstrate a lack of trust in their partners and grantees, or when attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) result in restrictions on giving. Funders are increasingly looking for more effective ways to deploy capital and promote wealth redistribution as they interrogate their own wealth, dip into endowments, and work toward a rebalance of power. This session will explore what’s working in philanthropy today to help direct resources toward historically marginalized communities and frontline organizations and create a pipeline for a more equitable and inclusive future of funding.
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We rely on journalists to report on the most urgent crises around the globe – humanitarian emergencies, armed conflicts, climate change, protests, and more. These journalists routinely contend with physical threats, the rise of misinformation, media deserts, and other challenges that are making reporting increasingly more difficult. At the same time, the way we consume news has fundamentally changed journalism, and everyone can have a role in reporting the news and exposing injustices and corruption. This session will explore what’s working to support a robust media sector able to report on the wide range of crises confronting our global community.
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Water is fundamental to every living being on the planet, but access is becoming increasingly limited largely due to climate change. Last year, the World Resources Institute reported that almost half of the world’s population faces water scarcity for at least one month a year. Improving clean water access is critical to sustaining human health; improving economic, political, and food security; and adapting to a changing climate. This session will examine what’s working to provide safe and clean fresh water to communities around the globe.
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In countries with developing health care systems – where 90 percent of preventable deaths occur – we are investing less than 10 percent of health research globally. Even in established and advanced health care systems, drugs and treatments are often only tested on a homogenous group of people, which can have significant consequences for public health. Innovations in the medical research and development process, including diversification of clinical trials, and technology development with diverse populations in mind, are unlocking access to precision medicine for more people and improving health outcomes to better serve all patients, regardless of gender, race, or geolocation. This session will examine what’s working to drive that progress forward and what is needed for further investment in more inclusive medical research and innovation.
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Sometimes the most innovative solutions are right in front of us, already discovered and waiting to be scaled or adapted to a different industry, challenge, or geography. Explore with us as we spotlight pioneers who have not only identified but successfully implemented unconventional and effective solutions to some of our most pressing global challenges. Hear from an artist using music to advance diplomacy and LGBTQ+ rights, a 17-year-old who is an international champion for gender equity after escaping the Taliban, a Rohingya student leading a groundbreaking humanitarian rights movement, a community leader combating the relational poverty of homelessness, and a UFC fighter changing the lives of thousands with sustainable climate solutions and freedom from slavery. Discover how these bold innovators are making a tangible difference and inspiring new approaches worldwide
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Every day in the United States, 327 people – including 23 children and teens – are shot with a firearm on average. Despite widespread consensus on the need for action to prevent gun violence, policy and social challenges have stood in the way of progress on this issue. However, we have reached a critical tipping point, and civil society and private sector leaders are advancing important solutions and public health interventions that will help mitigate the gun violence epidemic in America and save lives. This session will explore what’s working in this public health effort and what can be learned from other countries’ successful efforts to curb of gun violence to finally decrease shootings and deaths in the United States.
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As communities grapple with the effects of climate change, food insecurity, and biodiversity loss, local leaders are increasingly working to responsibly manage and steward their natural resources in innovative ways. Sustainable agriculture practices and community-led ecological preservation can help communities produce more food and protect the environment. This session will explore what’s working in communities worldwide to improve land management in ways that boost sustainability, biodiversity, and economic well-being.
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Africa is poised for a massive population boom. With 60 percent of its population under the age of 25 right now, the U.N. estimates that by 2050, 1 in 4 people on the planet will be African. The continent is booming with innovation, business, art, and technology, and efforts to invest in education and entrepreneurship abound. This session will explore what’s working to advance opportunities for young people and sustain Africa’s development over the coming decades.
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The changing climate is one of the leading threats to the health of people and planet. It is rapidly exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and obstacles to reproductive health that range from access to services, disruptions in supply chains, and financial barriers to quality care and treatment. Additionally, climate change’s direct impacts on physical health are leading to devastating consequences for reproductive health and outcomes. heat causes stress and harm to pregnant women and fetuses, increasing rates of stillbirth and preterm birth – while also encouraging infection and illnesses that are high risk for mothers, like malaria. The WHO reports that each additional 1°C in minimum daily temperature over 23.9°C has been shown to increase the risk of infant mortality by as much as 22.4%. Climate-related interventions such as more resilient health infrastructure and climate-adapted health services can help protect women amid a changing climate. This session will explore how climate-responsive solutions can protect and turn the tide for reproductive health.
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Historically marginalized workforce populations represent significant untapped global talent. Social enterprises around the world have led the way in developing innovative business models which meaningfully and profitably engage those most excluded from the labor market. Yet, there is still tremendous scope and opportunity for corporations, governments, and cross-sector partners to capitalize on this latent workforce brimming with potential to tackle barriers to employment while addressing global skill shortages. This session will showcase pioneering leaders who are reimagining approaches to skills development, job creation, and market-based investments that support inclusive economic opportunities for all.
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There is an urgent global mental health crisis. An estimated 1 billion people live with mental health, neurological, and substance use disorders globally, according to Boehringer Ingelheim – but 70 percent don’t have access to the care they need. While mental health challenges have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and rising diagnoses of anxiety and depressive disorders, we know that access to quality treatment and support is the antidote. By prioritizing research funding, tech-based solutions, and innovative community-based approaches, we are beginning to see substantial progress in expanding mental health care access and improved global health outcomes. This session will examine what’s working to increase access to care and educate communities on mental health.
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Racial inequality is persistent globally, in part due to structural barriers deeply ingrained in our economic, governmental, technological, and environmental ways of life. In recent years, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) rollbacks have become widespread, yet new efforts are making progress to mitigate these challenges and promote inclusion. This session will examine what’s working in the persistent fight against the status quo to reshape global systems, engage frontline communities, and create a more equitable and just future for all.
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Waste products produce significant greenhouse gases and create public health risks when not managed properly. Every year, more than 2 billion tons of municipal solid waste – from food surplus to discarded textiles and plastic – crowd our landfills and contribute to the pollution of our soil, water, and air. The session will explore what’s working to advance innovative recycling and promote circularity in both consumption and production.
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As humans are living longer on average, the changing makeup of the global population will have a dramatic effect on economic and health systems. Aging populations present unique challenges, particularly for women, who often face distinct health issues and economic vulnerabilities as they age. In response, innovative models for economic resilience and healthy longevity are shaping a different future for all of us as we age, from community-centric initiatives to new applications of technology and reimagined retirement policies. This session will explore what’s working to drive better economic and health outcomes for the world’s aging population.
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Live sports and gaming are among the largest global industries, with a common goal: to unite people through shared experiences. Whether fans are packed into a stadium, crowded around a television, or connected online in virtual worlds, sports and gaming collectively engage more than 4 billion individuals worldwide, each with diverse perspectives and life experiences. With such an extensive global reach, these industries can – and do – shape the cultural zeitgeist and contribute to advancements worldwide. From increasing gender equity in sports and using popular video games to discover climate and economic solutions, to the gamification of medical treatments and more we will hear from individuals who are leveraging their platform as a catalyst for change.
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The work of advancing social impact can be a lonely endeavor. Resource constraints, accelerating global challenges, and politicized news cycles all have made our commitment to make a positive difference in the world harder to realize.
While the work can feel lonely, you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s a formal partnership between organizations or informal support networks, finding and forging value-aligned connections can help sustain and fuel us as we face even the most difficult challenges.
Since CGI’s inception in 2005, more than 10,000 organizations have partnered on more than 4,000 Commitments to Action impacting more than 500 million people – a testament to the power of partnership and an example of a different way to build a community around a shared vision for a better future. As the world continues to fracture across geographic, political, and economic lines, there is greater urgency than ever to find creative ways to partner to reach shared objectives.
In this Mainstage Session, leaders from across the social impact spectrum will highlight the ways in which they break down barriers between peer institutions, cultivate partnerships and community, and align values and programs to create new, specific, and measurable ways to support one another.
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There’s no shortage of global challenges to confront. The pressure, speed, and magnitude of these challenges—like climate change, rising inequality, and natural and manmade disasters—are creating the “perfect storm” for those of us committed to making progress on both new and longstanding international development issues. For both those on the frontlines and in positions of power, the ‘ask’ is to increasingly stretch resources, take on new work, and fix systems with an unprecedented urgency.
The good news is that, in most cases, there are approaches already working that could be scaled or adapted. The question becomes—how do we marshal the resources and ingenuity to bring these solutions to scale? How do we harness one community solution and replicate it in other geographies or apply lessons learned to new challenges? How can we break down barriers and reorganize our ways of working so that the promise of one good idea has the ability to multiply?
In this Mainstage Session, we’ll unpack what it really means to be charged with finding solutions for everything everywhere all at once—and offer insights into how to leverage scale, replication, and innovation to meet the moment.
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Progress has been made toward eradicating and treating infectious diseases, yet millions of people worldwide continue to die each year from conditions like malaria, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, STIs, and antimicrobial resistance. This session will examine what’s working to eliminate diseases, increase access to vaccines, and promote better education and collaboration.
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Automobiles are a key driver of greenhouse gas emissions and are difficult to mitigate when reliant on fossil fuels. As sustainable solutions and transit options develop and are brought to scale, there’s an opportunity for significant emission reduction globally. This session will explore what’s working to promote adoption of cleaner transportation through electric vehicles and build infrastructure that supports a transition away from fossil fuels.
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Technology enables connection, education, health, and economic growth—but not for everyone. The divide between those who have access to technology and quality education and those who don’t remains a global challenge and has potential to widen further with increasing natural disasters and conflicts, and as advances in AI impact workforces around the globe. Extending access to technology and digital upskilling on the continent of Africa, where a rapidly growing youth population must be able to participate fully in the economy and society, is particularly urgent. This session will explore innovative solutions and strategies for bridging the digital divide and addressing education inequities, especially in underserved communities. Addressing these challenges will require concerted efforts from governments, businesses, non-profit organizations, and communities, so we can all reap the benefits of unlocking technology’s full potential to empower individuals, reduce poverty, promote social inclusion, and foster innovation.
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Humanitarian crises and violent conflicts have a disproportionate impact on women and girls, who are increasingly the architects of solutions for their affected communities. Despite their knowledge and lived experience, women continue to be vastly underrepresented in positions with decision-making power. Empowering women as decision-makers, from the community to the global level, can drive solutions and accelerate peace. This session will explore what’s working to elevate and support women who are on the frontlines fighting a range of social, political, and humanitarian threats.
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Globally, enough food is produced to feed the world population 1.5 times over, but nearly 30 percent of the world’s population experiences moderate to severe food insecurity. The current food system is unsustainable, inequitable, and in need of innovative, climate-smart solutions to tackle the interconnected problems of hunger, poverty, and climate vulnerability. This session will convene global thought leaders and social entrepreneurs pioneering solutions that maximize existing food production, leveraging both traditional knowledge and technological innovations to develop new opportunities to create a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient global food system.
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Vulnerable populations around the globe are threatened by the climate crisis, diminishing resources, and urgent humanitarian needs. This session will examine and highlight solutions from government, to public-private partnerships and community innovators who are working to address these issues on a local and global scale.
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“Recovery” often conjures images of someone overcoming substance abuse with clinical and community support. Today, opioid addiction has the highest mental health-related mortality rate, and the crisis continues to grow. . There has been a staggering 45 percent increase in substance use disorder cases globally over the past decade, impacting 39.5 million people in 2023 alone. However, until recently, the deadliest mental health crisis was rarely discussed or recognized globally: eating disorders. Now considered the second most deadly psychiatric illness, the number of those suffering from eating disorders has more than doubled in the past decade, with one person dying each hour in the United States alone. Both disorders thrive in silence and are shrouded in stigma. In this Story Studio session, we’ll break that silence. We will explore inspiring stories of people working to create solutions for recovery, whether at home or through large-scale social interventions.
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In 2024 alone, more than 2 billion voters in more than 60 countries will vote in a national election—the most voters in history and the highest concentration of elections for the next 24 years. Amid these high stakes, we face weakened trust in institutions and the political process because of global conflicts, polarized societies and politics, and various forms of oppression and misinformation. Renewed civic engagement is critical to the health of functioning democracies and broad social impact campaigns. This session will examine what’s working in the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to bolster democratic institutions in times of crisis and uncertainty.
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More than half of the world’s population lives in cities – where limited space and systems to serve billions of people are generating health disparities and high levels of pollution. As urban populations are set to double by 2050 and each successive year is the hottest on record, cities must leverage the power of both technology and nature to reimagine, advocate for, and ultimately build cities that allow people and the planet to prosper. This session will examine what’s working to develop healthy, sustainable, and equitable cities worldwide.
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A majority of “unbanked” people around the world are women – leaving them unable to pay for purchases through credit or access critical financial services. Structural barriers can hold women back in the global economy, but improved financial literacy and access to banking and wealth creation tools can dramatically expand opportunities and equal participation for women. This session will explore what’s working globally to unlock financial resources and economic potential for women.
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In the last decade, media and entertainment have become more fragmented but better at showcasing more diverse voices that have not previously been heard. Film, television, and digital media featuring people with disabilities, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native stories have increased awareness and inspired allyship for historically marginalized communities – often emboldening and expanding social movements. This session will feature trailblazing artists, storytellers, actors, producers, influencers, and writers who have broken the mold sharing how they infuse meaningful narratives into their creative work and use their platforms to drive greater understanding and meaningful impact.
In this session, the Aviram Foundation will present its first-ever Aviram Award for Climate Journalism to media who cover climate change and environmental issues.
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In 2023, an estimated 360 million people needed humanitarian assistance because of natural disasters and regional conflicts, according to the United Nations – more people than any other year in history. As we confront accelerating needs for relief due to climate change and widespread violent conflict, humanitarian actors are increasingly incorporating anticipatory action strategies into their work to pre-position aid and maximize their impact. This session will examine what’s working in the fight to get ahead of the next crisis, emphasizing the importance of philanthropic actors and other key stakeholders supporting local organizations as first responders.
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The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding and becoming more accessible with the potential for good across society. For example, the Harvard School of Public Health estimates that using AI to support diagnoses can help reduce treatment costs by up to 50 percent and improve health outcomes by 40 percent. However, as we rely more on AI to help us solve our most pressing challenges, leaders must contend with concerns including data privacy, inaccuracies, and job displacement. This session will examine what’s working across sectors to apply AI-enabled solutions while addressing the risks that this rapidly evolving technology poses.
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The social enterprise business model is rapidly gaining traction on a global scale. Today, social enterprises make up approximately 3 percent of businesses worldwide, generating over $2 trillion in annual revenue and creating more than 200 million jobs. There is immense economic potential to be realized when governments, corporations, and philanthropic organizations partner with social enterprises that put people and the planet first. From businesses that scale solutions to make health care more equitable to initiatives that improve education access for underserved populations, there is great opportunity to collaborate with social enterprises to collectively advance impact goals and catalyze transformative societal change. This session will bring together impact entrepreneurs as well as public and private sector intrapreneurs to explore collaborative partnerships, funding opportunities, and comprehensive solutions that enable social enterprises, especially those founded by traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs, to scale and thrive.
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Tomorrow – it’s both an inevitability and an opportunity. As the CGI community reverts to corners of the globe near and far to take action together, we are reminded that there’s more work to be done.
In our closing Mainstage session, we’ll focus our attention on the future. As the 2024 CGI Annual Meeting comes to a close, we know what’s working, we know who’s doing it, and we know where we need to fill in the gaps. The question becomes: what will you do – tomorrow – to make a difference?
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The CGI Mainstage is the marquee stage for insights and announcements from President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Chelsea Clinton as well as world leaders, global CEOs, and those on the frontlines who are showing all of us what’s working in their respective fields.
The CGI Leaders Stage is a premier stage with high-level moderated conversations with market movers and news makers. These timely and candid conversations will address some of today’s most pressing global challenges across a range of topics including health equity, gender equity, and climate finance.
Spotlight Sessions are dynamic spaces focused on driving action and accelerating new, specific, and measurable solutions. Hear from leading international voices as they engage thoughtfully in these 75-minute sessions.
Story Studio is a creative lounge where attendees gather to hear from some of the most brilliant change-makers today. Story Studio isn’t a traditional breakout session at a conference with panels, keynotes, and demos. Instead, it is a space for our community to hear how a personal moment created a ripple effect that has positively impacted countless lives and witness dynamic solutions-driven conversations with trailblazers from across the globe.
Greenhouse supports entrepreneurs from growth-stage social impact companies from across the globe working to introduce innovative technologies and business models that aim to solve critical global challenges. These sessions showcase innovators across social enterprise and startup communities who are scaling powerful solutions.
We invite you to join the conversation on social media by following our channels and using the hashtag #CGI2024.
