Young winners announced at climate awards

We were excited to announce the winners of our school innovation challenge, inspired by The Earthshot Prize, at a special awards ceremony in Cardiff on Wednesday 25 June.

As part of Climate Challenge Cymru, primary and secondary schools across Wales were invited to submit short videos capturing creative ideas to tackle one of five global challenges, or ‘Earthshots’: Build a Waste-Free World, Clean Our Air, Fix Our Climate, Protect and Restore Nature and Revive Our Oceans.  

From 2021 to 2024, Climate Challenge Cymru was a regional initiative in mid and west Wales, led by the First Minister Eluned Morgan. The competition is now managed nationally by Keep Wales Tidy’s Eco-Schools team, in partnership with Welsh Government.

When I founded the Earthshot Climate Challenge Cymru project in 2021, I wanted to create something different - a platform that would unleash the creativity and passion of young people in Wales to tackle climate change. What makes this project special is that it connects local action with global thinking. Across Wales, we've seen incredible partnerships between schools and environmental organisations, where students aren't just learning about climate change - they're taking real everyday climate action.

First Minister Eluned Morgan

Scroll down to see the winning videos or head to the Climate Challenge Cymru section of the website to find out more.

It’s been so inspiring to see the energy, creativity and enthusiasm of young people from across Wales on display at Climate Challenge Cymru today. Not only has it been a celebration of the incredible projects they’re already leading and the impact they're having but also signals a real momentum moving forward. The passion on display gives us real hope for the future. It’s clear that with young people leading the way, we have every reason to be optimistic.

Owen Derbyshire
Keep Wales Tidy Chief Executive

The following schools were recognised by the First Minister and Deputy First Minister at the Climate Challenge Cymru celebration at Llanishen & Lisvane Reservoirs Visitor Centre.

Pennar Community School in Pembrokeshire won the Build a Waste-Free World category with an inspiring film documenting their campaign to tackle food waste in school and at home.

Ynysddu Primary School in Caerphilly triumphed in the Clean Our Air category, earning an award for their innovative research into using lichen to monitor air quality and their efforts to reduce carbon emissions in their local area.

Fochriw Primary School in Caerphilly were honoured in the Fix Our Climate category for their inspiring ‘eco-wedding’ project, highlighting how special milestones can be celebrated sustainably.

Ysgol Clywedog in Wrexham took home the top prize in the Protect and Restore Nature category for their joint film project with Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Bangladesh Islamia School in the United Arab Emirates, demonstrating how schools around the world can nurture local biodiversity.

Gwernyfed High School in Powys secured an award in the Revive Our Oceans category in recognition of their innovative work in finding alternative uses for discarded plastic bottles.