The prestigious Earthshot Prize is a global challenge based on five Earthshots – ambitious goals for 2030 to fix our biggest environmental problems.
Launched in October 2020 by the Prince of Wales and The Royal Foundation, Earthshot rewards innovative, big ideas that provide solutions to repair the planet before irreversible damage occurs.
You can find out about some of the inspirational innovators and how they are using their big ideas to change the world on the Earthshot website.
Inspired by The Earthshot Prize and in partnership with Welsh Government, we are launching a school innovation challenge for young people in Wales – Climate Challenge Cymru 2025.
We know that young people already have some of the solutions that our planet needs and are working hard to make changes in school communities.
This challenge involves celebrating solutions that have already been created or are being planned in schools, as well as using design thinking to come up with new solutions to one of five global challenges.
We’re looking for short, creative videos from learners aged 5-18. The deadline is 18.00 on Friday 11 April.
The finalists in each category will be invited to a prestigious awards ceremony in Cardiff in June 2025!
Keep reading for all the details.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to Climate Challenge Cymru:
Choose which theme you will focus your challenge on. Click on the links below for more information.
One you’ve selected your theme, please make sure you register for the competition. A member of the Eco-Schools team will then be in touch with further guidance, useful resources and details of how to submit your entry.
Each Earthshot theme covers a range of different areas that you could choose to explore in more detail. For example, you could choose to investigate why we waste so much food as part of Waste-Free World, or the role of seaweed within Fix our Climate.
The Generation Earthshot website is a great place to start for tips on investigating the problem and prioritising an area. We’ve also pulled together lots of resources from our Eco-Schools partners to help with every stage of your challenge.
How will you take innovative action in your school community to tackle your chosen challenge?
You can either build on a project you’ve already started, or plan and begin a new project to take action.
Remember to think about your impact. Tell us the results of what you’re doing or plan to do. How will you measure impact and share your work with your whole school community?
Think BIG to design an additional solution for your chosen Earthshot that could be used on a national or even global scale.
Be as creative as you want – just because it hasn’t been done before, doesn’t mean it can’t be done!
You don’t need to make your design, just plan it on paper or digitally.
Once all the background work is done and you’ve got your ideas, you’re ready to film.
We want you to be as creative as possible; you just need to cover the following points in your video:
Videos should be shot in landscape and be no longer than three minutes.
Entries are welcome in English and Welsh, and we can accept up to five entries per school.
All entries must be submitted by 18.00 on Friday 11 April 2025.
Entries will be judged by an external panel during April and the finalists in each category will be notified in May.
The prestigious celebration and prizegiving will take place in June in Cardiff (we’ll cover travel costs and food for all finalists).
You’ll need to select one of five Earthshot themes for your Climate Challenge Cymru video. Click on the boxes to find out more.
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. The energy and innovation I've seen from these young people has been remarkable. This is the kind of practical, youth-led action that Wales needs as we work to build a more sustainable future - one where young people don't just inherit our environmental challenges but are equipped with the skills and confidence to solve them. First Minister Eluned Morgan
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. The energy and innovation I've seen from these young people has been remarkable. This is the kind of practical, youth-led action that Wales needs as we work to build a more sustainable future - one where young people don't just inherit our environmental challenges but are equipped with the skills and confidence to solve them.
First Minister Eluned Morgan
Children and young people are crucial in tackling the climate and nature emergency. Your collective voices, solutions, and ideas can drive real change in your schools and communities. The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the climate action needed, and that's why I'm excited to invite you to be part of Climate Challenge Cymru. This is your chance to take meaningful action and share your innovative solutions with others. You are working to create the future you deserve, and this competition is a fantastic platform to continue your journey in becoming climate champions in Wales. I look forward to seeing the incredible work you are doing and discovering how we can all make a difference together. Let's inspire each other and take bold steps towards a sustainable future. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies
Children and young people are crucial in tackling the climate and nature emergency. Your collective voices, solutions, and ideas can drive real change in your schools and communities. The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the climate action needed, and that's why I'm excited to invite you to be part of Climate Challenge Cymru. This is your chance to take meaningful action and share your innovative solutions with others. You are working to create the future you deserve, and this competition is a fantastic platform to continue your journey in becoming climate champions in Wales. I look forward to seeing the incredible work you are doing and discovering how we can all make a difference together. Let's inspire each other and take bold steps towards a sustainable future.
Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies
Children have an inborn connection to nature and Climate Challenge Cymru meaningfully involves young people in the collective effort to make sure Wales is inclusive, thriving and green for generations to come. Wales' eco schools project has already been a great success and as we mark 10 years of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, I'm excited to see the ideas, challenges and energy of our young planet stewards. Derek Walker Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
Children have an inborn connection to nature and Climate Challenge Cymru meaningfully involves young people in the collective effort to make sure Wales is inclusive, thriving and green for generations to come. Wales' eco schools project has already been a great success and as we mark 10 years of the Well-being of Future Generations Act, I'm excited to see the ideas, challenges and energy of our young planet stewards.
Derek Walker Future Generations Commissioner for Wales
