Young climate activists from Galway are among the all-island finalists selected to go through to this year’s ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA ), taking place on May 8 in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
ECO-UNESCO has announced the YEA 2025 finalists to coincide with Earth Day which takes place every year on April 22.
Six groups from five Galway schools are among 102 finalists from across the island of Ireland to have succeeded at the semi-final ‘ECO-Dens’ stages of the YEAs last month and who will go on to showcase their shortlisted eco-projects at the YEAs this year.
‘Bealach Beo Bhearna’, a project from Scoil Náisiúnta Shéamais Naofa, Bearna, has been shortlisted for the Transport Category of the awards. The group of young people focused on the need for a dedicated cycle path connecting Scoil Shéamais Naofa, Bearna, to the city centre in Galway, enhancing safety and accessibility for students, residents, and commuters. By creating awareness, they hoped to encourage sustainable transportation, promote safety, incorporate an inclusive design and support community access.
‘CarbonCut- An Intelligent Way To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint’, a project from Coláiste Mhuire, Ballygar, is through to the Climate Change Category of the awards. The group of young people focussed on harnessing technology and created an app to understand public attitudes toward the climate crisis. Their mission is to provide concise, actionable tips, proving that small efforts create meaningful change.
‘Eolach ar Éanacha’, a project from Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin, has been shortlisted for the ECO-Community Development Category of the awards. The young people documented and shared information about the birds on Inis Meáin, focusing on unique biodiversity and conservation efforts, including encouraging species like the corncrake to return. Using technology to record images and sounds, the project raised awareness through social media, community initiatives with plans to install informative public signs about local bird species.
The young people from Galway will join over 1,000 young environmentalists from across Ireland for a day of celebration, inspiration, and climate action.
Commenting on this year’s YEA finalists, Elaine Nevin, national director, ECO-UNESCO said: “The projects that have made it through to this year’s Young Environmentalist Awards reflect the mission of Earth Day, the theme of which this year is ‘Our Power, Our Planet’ ? a call to action highlighting the transformative power of renewable energy and its role in creating a more sustainable and equitable future. Through their projects, young people have taken the lead in raising awareness of critical environmental issues, inspiring change in their communities, and championing more sustainable lifestyles.”
Further information about the Young Environmentalist Awards is available online at ecounesco.ie
