Environmental charity chief appeals to Mayo grassroots as eco awards launched

The search is on for budding young environmentalists across Mayo after a charity chief launched the Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) 2025.

Organised by environmental youth movement ECO-UNESCO, the YEA recognises the work of young people in Ireland and Northern Ireland who are taking environmental and climate action.

More than 65,000 children and teenagers aged 10-18 have been involved with the awards since they began in 1999.

Speaking at the launch, ECO-UNESCO national director Elaine Nevin said: “Our young people are our future and every year, when the YEA entries arrive, I always find their enthusiasm and passion for environmental action inspiring.

“We have had some excellent entries from young people in Mayo in the past and I can’t wait to see what actions they take this year.

“Young people across the island of Ireland are growing up during an era of extreme weather events and are becoming very concerned about climate change as result.

“In our Youth Climate Justice Survey, published in June, almost all respondents (96%) said they were worried about the environment.

“Just under two-thirds (65%) said the issue of climate change was causing them anxiety, while more than half (53%) said it was making them fearful, and 47% said it was making them sad.”

Entries to YEA 2025 are now open to any group of young people aged 10-18 years. There are three age categories: 10-12, 12-14 and 15-18 years. Groups can have as little as two members, but no more than 25. Registration is free via yea.ie and closes on November 30, with the winners being named at a ceremony in Dublin next May.

At YEA 2024, students from Kinaffe National School in Swinford were among the prize winners.

ECO-UNESCO is also hosting a series of free online talks this month for children and teenagers aged eight to 18, starting on September 23.

The main aim of the ECO-WEEK is to inspire young people to take environmental action in their school or community, with separate sessions for children aged 8-12 and for the 12-18 age group. Visit here for more information.