Eco activist Laois students win top environmental award

Students from Portlaoise College beat off stiff opposition from across the country to claim top prize in the Junior Waste category at this year’s ECO-UNESCO Young Environmentalist Awards 2023. 

The students- Bobby Quinn, Robyn Neylon-Phipps, Joshua Doyle, Joseph Lambert and Alex Toman- scooped the prize for their project ‘The Daily Grind.’ 

Their project looked at ways of reducing waste in their school and wider community by focusing on coffee. They researched how coffee grounds could be reused in the garden and raised awareness on how this reduces methane emissions and promotes sustainability. They were among 24 eco-projects to receive awards at this year’s competition.

Over 1,000 people attended the Young Environmentalist Awards 2023 showcase and finals. From nearly 280 projects across 27 counties, 104 schools or youth organisations were shortlisted for the finals and to showcase their eco-project.

 The Young Environmentalist Awards recognise the work of young people who are tackling key issues in relation to climate and biodiversity loss, taking environmental action in their school or community and come up with creative solutions to solve environmental issues. Since it began, the YEA programme has attracted over 50,000 young people and reached countless others with awareness-raising campaigns in schools and communities throughout Ireland.

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National Director, ECO-UNESCO  Elaine Nevin was impressed with the standard of entires this year. 

“We’ve been blown away by the standard of eco-action projects this year, and the sheer breadth of issues being highlighted by young people in Laois and across Ireland. The awards provide an important opportunity to recognise the action our young people are taking in the fight against climate change. The projects also highlight the tangible impact that simple actions can have on stalling climate change and protecting our planet,” she said. 

“I would like to congratulate all of our awardees, acknowledge those who took part in our regional semi-finals and thank all our funders who make this all possible. Each and every project that entered this year’s awards deserves to be celebrated. 

As one of the official Sustainable Development Goals Champions appointed in Ireland, we are in awe of the new and innovative ways in which young people are making a positive environmental difference. We look forward to continuing to support and empower young people to use their voices and minds to enact change in our society,” Ms Nevin added.