Search for young environmentalists across Cork

The search is on for budding young environmentalists across Cork following the launch of the Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) 2025.

Organised by environmental youth movement Eco-Unesco, the YEA recognise the work of young people across the island of Ireland taking environmental and climate action.

More than 65,000 children and teenagers aged 10 to 18 have been involved with the awards since they began in 1999. At YEA 2024, students from Kinsale Community School and Glanmire Community College were among the prize winners.

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 Cork 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 a result,” Ms Nevin said

Ms Nevin said that in its 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 to 18 years.

There are three age categories — 10 to 12, 12 to 14, and 15 to 18 years — and groups can have as few 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.

For more information, people can visit ecounesco.ie/10-18-youth-programmes/eco-weeks.