Empower 2025, held in Qatar, was a powerful demonstration of how the country’s youth are translating eco-anxiety into innovation. Under the theme “Driving Climate Action through Green Entrepreneurship,” the event highlighted the potential for young entrepreneurs to address environmental challenges while contributing to Qatar’s sustainable future. This theme aligns closely with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, which focuses on four key pillars: human, social, economic, and environmental development. Green entrepreneurship sits at the heart of these interconnected goals, promoting a holistic approach to both community well-being and environmental preservation.
Youth in Qatar Lead the Charge on Climate Action
Qatar’s youth are among the most climate-conscious in the Middle East. A 2024 PwC survey found that 98% of Qatari youth are aware of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the highest awareness rate in the region. This is in line with a global trend, where nearly 60% of young people aged 16-25 express deep concern about climate change. However, in Qatar, this worry is being transformed into a source of inspiration and action.
Mohamed Falfoul, an advocate for youth environmental activism, emphasised, “It isn’t enough to identify eco-anxiety, we must transform this energy into tangible, intergenerational action.” This spirit of transformation was evident throughout Empower 2025, where climate concern became a catalyst for creativity and innovative thinking.
Green Entrepreneurship at the Sustainability Expo
At the Sustainability Expo, young Qatari entrepreneurs showcased how innovation rooted in local culture can serve both the nation and the planet. One notable example came from Nasser Almoslamani, CEO and co-founder of Naseh, a legal-tech start-up. His company is revolutionising legal services by digitising processes, reducing paperwork, travel, and inefficiency. This model not only offers environmental benefits but also improves accessibility, making it a prime example of sustainable innovation.
Maryam bint Faisal, an SDG Ambassador, also stood out at the event. She presented an interactive game aimed at teaching children about recycling, inspired by her younger sister’s frustration with traditional environmental messaging. By combining scientific principles with creativity, Maryam created an engaging way to teach younger generations the importance of sustainability.
Collaboration Drives Progress in Green Entrepreneurship
The success of EcoAwareness QA, a youth-led initiative founded by Mohammed Elfatih, Mohammed Mishaal Al-Khuzaei, and Fisal Jassim Al-Emadi, underscores the power of collaboration. Starting as a friendship project, it has evolved into a national campaign, reaching tens of thousands of students across Qatar. The founders attribute their success to the support they received from one another and their peers, demonstrating that green entrepreneurship thrives best when it is networked and collaborative, rather than isolated.
Empower 2025 proved that climate action is most effective when it draws on collective energy. For youth organiser Sara Al Boainin, the workshops provided valuable tools to tackle climate challenges, helping participants understand the practical steps needed to foster Qatar’s green economy.
A Call for Intergenerational Cooperation
Fardous Abdullah, from EAA’s ROTA programme, summarised the core message of Empower 2025: “The path forward is not youth versus experience, or business versus environment, it’s youth in business, environment in enterprise, and community in collaboration.” This approach reflects the growing consensus that addressing climate challenges requires contributions from all sectors of society.
As Qatar continues its push for sustainability, the country’s youth are leading the way in creating a greener, more resilient future. For policymakers, educators, and business leaders, the message is clear: provide networks, mentorship, and support to youth entrepreneurs, as their ideas hold the potential to shape the world.
Empower 2025 stands as a powerful reminder that when young people are given the tools and resources to act, they can be the driving force behind meaningful environmental change. The energy at the event proved that this generation of innovators will not only tackle climate change but also reshape the future of business and sustainability.
For further insights into Qatar’s role in innovation and sustainability, explore how Global Food Week 2025 is fostering new ideas in sustainable innovation.