Mayo man named All Ireland Young Sustainability Change Maker of the Year

LUKE Gibbons, a 28-year-old PhD candidate and Irish Research Council Scholar from Claremorris, has been honoured with the prestigious All Ireland Young Sustainability Change Maker of the Year Award at a gala ball at the La Mon Hotel and Country Club in Belfast.

The award highlights individuals under 30 who are making significant strides in promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability.

Luke was selected from a highly competitive field of nominees for his exceptional leadership in environmental education, policy development and climate action advocacy.

In a double celebration, Luke was also announced as the Young Mayo Person of the Year in Breaffy House Hotel on the same day.

These awards recognise his outstanding efforts as a young environmental and sustainability leader, celebrating his role in driving positive change within his community and the broader low-carbon economy.

Luke Gibbons’ career has been marked by numerous accolades that span both academia and policy-making. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Trinity College Dublin, funded by the Irish Research Council, where his research focuses on company directors’ duties in relation to climate change risks. His work addresses the growing need for corporate governance to align with climate action, a subject of increasing relevance in the legal and business worlds.

His leadership in sustainability was globally recognised earlier this year when he was named one of the Top 30 Under 30 Environmental Educators in the World by the North American Association for Environmental Education. This distinction highlights his role in promoting environmental education that reaches over 300,000 people worldwide. He is the only awardee from Ireland and the European Union in the 2024 cohort.

In February 2024, Luke was further honoured as a recipient of the Top 40 Under 40 Irish in America award, where he won the People’s Choice Award with an astounding 21,496 votes. This recognition celebrated Luke’s transatlantic contributions to sustainability, education, and climate action, reflecting his influence both in Ireland and the US.

Luke holds a First-Class Law Degree with a Gold Medal from Trinity College Dublin and a BCL Masters in Law with Distinction from the University of Oxford, where he was named the Honoré Scholar in Law. Additionally, he undertook a Fulbright Scholarship at Harvard Law School as a Visiting Researcher in 2023, further cementing his international impact in the areas of environmental law and climate change governance.

He has presented his research at prestigious conferences, including the Irish Centre for European Law and Environmental Protection Agency Conference at Dublin Castle and the Mary Robinson Climate Conference 2024.

He has worked as a Legislative Fellow in the office of US Congressman Matt Cartwright as part of the Washington Ireland Program.

In addition to his policy work and philanthropy, Luke is the founder of the Ireland America Young Professionals Network (IAYPN), which has grown to over 1,000 members since its inception in 2023.

In September 2024, Luke represented the Washington Ireland Program at the UN Summit of the Future in NYC.

In December, he will represent Ireland at the Global Peace Summit in NYC, where he will engage in high-level discussions about Ireland’s potential role in influencing global climate policy. Before that, on November 26, Luke will speak alongside Mary Robinson in the Royal College of Surgeons, where they will discuss Ireland’s influence in global climate policy.

Luke’s contributions to environmental education, policy advocacy, and public engagement make him a fitting recipient of the All Ireland Young Sustainability Change Maker Award. His work continues to shape both national and international dialogues on climate action.

Reflecting on the honour, Luke said: “It’s incredibly humbling to be recognised for work that I feel so passionate about. This award represents not just an achievement for me, but for everyone who is working tirelessly to create a more sustainable future.

“I believe we all have a role to play in tackling the climate crisis, and this recognition reinforces my commitment to driving positive change in Ireland and beyond.”