Published: 18 Oct 2024 499 views
Since our first competition was launched in 2010, we have received over 14,000 essay and video entries from 120 countries, exploring topics from sustainability education, protecting biodiversity and sustainable cities, to climate justice, nature-based solutions and youth messages to world leaders.
This year, in celebration of our 15th year of International Student Competitions, we are excited to launch our next competition inviting students to share their original, creative and expressive responses to the theme, From Eco-Anxiety to Eco Action & Empowerment
Eco-anxiety, climate grief and climate anxiety are defined as ‘negative emotional responses generated due to the threat of environmental and climate crisis’. A 2024 United Nations report has highlighted that ‘Eco-anxiety’ is an ‘emergency crisis hidden in plain sight’ and is likely to create a massive impact among the world’s children and youth.
Recent global surveys have indicated that over 50% of young people are experiencing eco-anxiety and are extremely worried about environmental and climate change, with many reporting feelings of sadness, anxiousness, anger, powerlessness, helplessness and guilt.
Responses to the climate and ecological crisis such as anxiety and anger are natural and healthy emotional responses, and many believe these feelings can be channelled and can help encourage engagement, understanding and action at an individual and group level, as demonstrated by the rise in youth engagement and action seen over the last few years.
TSL wants to help young people develop a sense of agency, empowerment and hope for solutions and action by creating a safe and supportive space and outlet for expression for students and teachers to explore moving from feelings of eco-anxiety, to eco action & empowerment.
We are open to accepting any form of student response, you can choose to create a piece of artwork, music, video, poem, essay, letter, story, etc. There are no restrictions on the type of work submitted, we want students to be as open and creative as possible in interpreting the theme, however it must meet the submission criteria detailed in the brief.
The Trust for Sustainable Living is a global education charity, based at the Living Rainforest centre in West Berkshire, UK.
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| Application Deadline | 03 Mar 2025 |
| Type | Contest |
| Sponsor | Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) |
| Gender | Men and Women |
The International Student Competition is open to all students worldwide, aged 7-18 across two age categories – 7-11 years and 12-18 years
Judging criteria
Our entries will be judged by an international panel of sustainability experts and educationalists, who will select the winning entries in each category.
The judges are looking for originality and creativity in all formats – and the potential to contribute to constructive national or international debate. Unique perspectives often score highly.
Our judges will be scoring entries on:
Each student’s age is taken into account when judging, so that younger students are not at a disadvantage when compared with older students.
Key dates
As a reminder:
For more details, visit TSL website
