Zero Waste - Responsible production & consumption, a video made by Anna Golden, a 19-year-old student from Barna, has been shortlisted for the UN Climate Change Youth Video competition.
The video is an animation created by Anna to explain the ‘Zero Waste’ - an idea that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so all products are reused, and that no waste needs to be sent to landfill - is one of 20 shortlisted from around the world, and the only video from the UK or Ireland, out of more than 300 entries.
The UN competition aims to highlight, through videos, climate action being taken by those aged between 18 adn 30. A judging panel, including representatives from a number of UN climate and environment committees, has pre-selected the shortlist of videos based on the criteria of content, innovation, originality, impact, and technical expertise.
Anna completed her Leaving Cert in Salerno in 2017, and spent the last academic year in France studying art and design before returning to NUI Galway in September to study maths and economics.
“I am delighted to have been selected by the judges in this global UN competition and proud to represent Ireland on a shortlist that includes videos from so many countries including Mexico, Indonesia, Denmark, Canada, India and Rwanda,” said Anna. “I have always had a keen interest in environmental issues and I’m particularly passionate about reducing our waste. I started to practice ‘Zero Waste’ when I was living in France and estimate I reduced what I send to landfill by about 90 per cent. As I developed my digital design skills I looked to see how I could use animation to create more awareness about the impact of our consumption habits on the environment.”
The second stage of the competition is the public voting. The video with the most views by October 28 wins. To see Anna’s video go to or Google ‘2018 Zero Waste Anna’.