Global Education Time Ireland was delighted to attend the ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) Final at the Convention Centre Dublin on 8 May 2025. This vibrant and inspiring event celebrated young people from across Ireland who have taken environmental action through youth-led projects that educate, inspire, and create change.
Since 1999, the YEA programme has supported more than 65,000 young people in taking meaningful steps to protect the planet and raise awareness in their communities. The 2025 final brought together a new generation of changemakers, all passionate about creating a greener, more sustainable future.
This year, Global Education Time Ireland was invited to join the YEA judging panel. It had the privilege of meeting some of the young people behind the projects and hearing directly from them about their motivations, actions, and hopes. From climate education and peer-to-peer learning to biodiversity campaigns, waste reduction, and innovative uses of technology, each project reflected the creativity, dedication, and leadership of young people who are already making a real difference.
As judges, the GET Ireland team was deeply impressed by how confidently participants communicated their ideas, often rooted in personal experience or local concern, and connected them to global environmental challenges. Many shared how their projects had influenced others in their schools and communities, demonstrating the powerful ripple effect of youth-led climate action.
“One of the most powerful aspects of the event was hearing students speak about their journeys. They spoke with honesty about their eco-anxieties, with clarity about the challenges they face, and with determination about the kind of world they want to help build. The projects were more than presentations, they were calls to action, grounded in care for their environment and hope for their future,” said Kathryn Moore, head of the GET Ireland team, at the end of the event.
While not a Global Education Time event, the themes and values at the heart of the YEA final closely align with the project work in global education. The importance of youth voice, environmental awareness, and education as a tool for empowerment all featured strongly. From climate change and sustainability to wellbeing and equality, there were countless links to the key global themes we explore in the Teaching and Learning Units.
Global Education Time Ireland is grateful to ECO-UNESCO for the invitation to be part of such a meaningful day, and extend thanks to the teachers, youth workers, mentors, and families who support these young people every step of the way. To every participant, whether finalist, award-winner, or advocate – you are not only the leaders of tomorrow, you are already leading today. Your ideas, actions, and voices are helping to shape a greener and fairer world.
To find out more about the Young Environmentalist Awards and the 2025 finalists, visit the YEA website. Discover and free download GET Big Ideas on Climate Change to raise environmental awareness in your class.
