Young Environmentalist Awards 2026 Winners Announced at National Showcase in Dublin

Youth-led projects tackling biodiversity, fast fashion, climate change and sustainability from across Ireland recognised for outstanding environmental action

Ireland’s most inspiring young environmental changemakers were celebrated this week as ECO-UNESCO announced the winners of the Young Environmentalist Awards (YEA) 2026 at a national showcase event in Dublin.

The annual awards programme, one of Ireland’s largest youth environmental initiatives, celebrated young people aged 10–18 who have developed projects addressing major environmental and social challenges including biodiversity loss, climate change, waste reduction, sustainable transport and food sustainability.

This year’s programme saw 340 environmental action projects submitted from 29 counties, with 110 finalist groups shortlisted following regional ECO-Dens semi-final events held across Ireland.

Held on Tuesday 12th May at the Concert Hall in the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), the event brought together over 1,000 students, teachers, families, community leaders and policymakers to celebrate youth-led environmental action from young people across the country.

Project GoWild from a group of young people from Mean Scoil Nua An Leith Triuigh, Co. Kerry was named Overall Senior Winner. The project focused on protecting the Ringed Plover through biodiversity education programmes, workshops and community engagement initiatives.
Young Environmentalists with their project Wear Your Values from St Catherine’s College, Co. Armagh, received the Overall Junior Winner award for a campaign tackling the environmental impact of fast fashion through upcycling, clothing swaps and sustainable fashion awareness.
Tackling Waste in Citywise, Jobstown, Tallaght… the WORLD! From CityWise Education, Dublin, was awarded Overall Super Junior Winner for a project focused on improving recycling practices and reducing landfill waste within their community.

A total of 110 finalist groups representing 26 counties showcased projects tackling key environmental challenges including biodiversity loss, climate change, waste reduction, sustainable transport, energy conservation and health & wellbeing.

The finalists were selected following a nationwide series of ECO-Dens semi-finals held in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Armagh and online, where more than 1,100 young people took part in Dragon’s Den-style presentations judged by environmental and industry experts.

Elaine Nevin, National Director of ECO-UNESCO, said: “The creativity, innovation and passion demonstrated by this year’s finalists has been truly inspiring. From biodiversity conservation and sustainable fashion campaigns to climate action and community initiatives, these young people are showing the important role youth can play in creating positive environmental change. The Young Environmentalist Awards continue to highlight the power of youth-led action and we are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of all the finalists and winners involved this year.”

Additional award winners included:

Young environmentalists form Mercy College, Co. Sligo, with their sustainable transport campaign Step Up for the Planet, received the People’s Choice Award
The LightUp Kolkata initiative from young people from Coláiste Treasa, Co. Cork, received the Local to Global SDG Award for their project which created solar lights from recycled materials to support families in Kolkata
Leo Murphy of Eureka Secondary School, Co. Meath, who was recognised with the Mentor of the Year Award

Category awards were also presented across a range of areas including Biodiversity, Climate Change, Water, Energy, Waste, ECO-Art & Design, ECO-Entrepreneurship, Food and ECO-Health & Wellbeing.

The Young Environmentalist Awards is Ireland’s largest youth environmental awards programme, empowering young people aged 10–18 to take meaningful action on environmental issues while developing key skills such as teamwork, communication and critical thinking.

This year’s programme also marked a significant milestone as ECO-UNESCO celebrates 40 years of empowering young people through environmental education and action.

To learn more about the Young Environmentalist Awards and the work of ECO-UNESCO, visit www.ecounesco.ie

Full list of winners

Overall Winners

Overall Senior Winner: GoWild – Mean Scoil Nua An Leith Triuigh, Kerry
Overall Junior Winner: Wear Your Values – St Catherine’s College, Armagh
Overall Super Junior Winner: Tackling waste in Citywise, Jobstown, Tallaght……the WORLD! – CityWise Education, Dublin

Category Winners

Junior Biodiversity Award: Wildlife Rangers – Mayo
Senior Biodiversity Award: GoWild – Kerry
Junior Climate Change Award: Less Fart, More Smart: How a Happy Meal for Cows Cuts Methane – Dublin
Senior Climate Change Award: ‘Nitrogen footprints’: the biggest problem you’ve never heard of – Wexford
Junior Transport Award: Pareto-Optimal Transport with Environmental & Health Impacts – Westmeath
Senior Transport Award: Step Up for the Planet – Sligo
Senior ECO-Community Development Award: Bay South Allies – Dublin
Junior Water Award: Every Step Makes A Splash – Meath
Senior Water Award: Waste Reduction – Wexford
Junior ECO-Health & Wellbeing Award: Garden to Plate – Dublin
Senior ECO-Health & Wellbeing Award: Sustainable & biodiverse Sensory Garden to Support Student Wellbeing – Cork
Senior Food Award: Local Food Heroes – Kerry
Junior Energy Award: Switch & Save – Wicklow
Senior Energy Award: Phantom Energy – Laois
Junior ECO-Art & Design Award: Fantastic Plastics – Meath
Senior ECO-Art & Design Award: The Green Lesson – Donegal
Junior Waste Award: Wear Your Values – Armagh
Senior Waste Award: From Logistical Waste to Living Spaces: The Upcycled Garden Project – Mayo
Junior ECO-Entrepreneurship Award: Turning the tide on Plastic – Tipperary
Senior ECO-Entrepreneurship Award: Waste to Wonders – Down

Additional Awards

Further Growth Award: Willow weaving – Westmeath
Further Growth Award: Outdoors with the Fairies – Monaghan
Further Growth Award: Gambling with the Climate – Meath
Local to Global SDG Award: LightUp Kolkata: Solar Lights from Recycled Materials – Cork
People’s Choice Award: Step Up for the Planet – Sligo
Mentor of the Year Award: Leo Murphy – Meath