Portlaoise woman wins Climate Ambassador Award

Portlaoise woman Sarah Bennett has won a Climate Ambassador Award for her work in leading the way in community climate action. 

An Taisce’s annual Climate Ambassador Awards brings together citizens who are passionate about protecting the planet and rewards their local efforts to reduce the impact of climate change in Ireland.

Sarah Bennett, from Kilminchy, secured her Climate Ambassador Outstanding Achievement Award for using her crafting talents to encourage others to adopt a more circular and sustainable mindset. 

A knitter and sewer, Sarah set up a regular repair café, where she taught people how to repair their clothes, enabling them to become more resourceful. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

A strong generator of community engagement and youth-led climate action, Sarah also set up ‘An Tionscadal Cniotála’, or ‘The Knitting Project’, where they offered beginner Knitting classes and ran a community Knitting Group. This was in response to fast fashion, and participants were invited to develop an appreciation for slow, mindful and handmade items of clothing. Sarah put her passion for preventing waste to further use by organising a month-long event in her student accommodation to enable students, particularly international students, to sell or give away items such as lamps and bookshelves, at the end of their residency. As a student of law, she put her strong sense of justice to task by writing a piece with the Youth Advisory Panel on ‘Waste Colonialism’ to be shared with the Irish Climate Youth Delegate for COP29, as well as an article exploring fundamental rights & freedoms, and how they empower young people to advocate for meaningful change in response to the climate crisis. 

 “The Climate Ambassador Programme has shown me the power of collective changes. Small things that we do every day have a huge impact on the environment. I feel immensely inspired and grateful to be introduced to a network of incredible people who share my hope for a sustainable future," said Sarah. 

Climate Action Manager in An Taisce, Gráinne Ryan, said: “An Taisce has no doubt that Sarah will continue to inspire others to take action locally in Laois and across the country,” said Gráinne Ryan, Climate Action Manager in An Taisce.

From Donegal to Dublin and Longford to Laois, on Saturday November 30, the room was filled with inspiring changemakers. Hailing from communities, clubs, businesses, schools, and colleges from all over Ireland.

Every Climate Ambassador was recognised with a framed certificate, and 10 were distinguished with special awards for their impactful climate actions. Throughout the year, they engaged their networks with biodiversity, circular fashion, education, nature restoration, youth communications, sustainable travel, sustainable energy, tree planting, rewilding, flood prevention, degrowth, food waste, and environmental advocacy. In addition to their impressive impact and extensive list of achievements, the awardees were also commended for uniting communities, boosting neighbourhood bonds, building trust, bridging generational gaps, and raising hope for our future.