A record breaking number of finalists have made it to Young Environmentalist Awards despite Covid interruption. ECO-UNESCO has received more than 500 applications, with 152 making it to this year’s finals. This is ECO-UNESCO’s 21st year holding the Young Environmentalist Awards and will be announcing the winner’s virtually on the 21st of May through YouTube live and social media platforms. 

The Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) recognises and rewards young people aged 10-18 who have taken environmental action and created projects that will help solve environmental issues. There will be 14 Categories varying from Waste to Eco-Innovation to Biodiversity.

Some of the finalists include Stools for Schools, a group of 10-12 year olds in St. Thomas Senior National School, Dublin, who have created school furniture using recycled plastics, ME-Bags from Crumlin Youthreach in Dublin who have created mental health bags filled with eco-friendly products and CompGoesGreen, from Clare which has made it to the final after banning single-use plastic in their school. St.Patrick’s Comprehensive School has saved over 12,000 bottles from landfill since their CompGoesGreen campaign began.

Elaine Nevin, Director of ECO-UNESCO said “We are delighted at the quality of applications this year and we cannot wait to announce this year’s winners. Young people are still taking eco action and continuing their projects at home, despite the pandemic. Even when the world stops, climate action does not.  In light of this we are holding an ECO Week to celebrate the young people who are enthusiastic about making an environmental difference.”

An event that usually brings schools and community groups together from all over Ireland to showcase their projects, will now be a week-long celebration while Covid-19 restrictions are in place. ECO Week 2020 will be held from 18th to 22nd May and will include a range of environmental workshops, well-being activities, talks, and challenges for young people alongside the YEA Winner announcements.The theme of ECO Week 2020 is Food, Fitness, Fashion and your Future. The aim of ECO Week is to celebrate the achievements of young activists, to allow young people to explore career opportunities in environmentalism and to educate them on a range of environmental topics. 

For more information on the Young Environmentalist Awards please go to www.yea.ie