Young people are central to the climate crisis — and their engagement and influence in environmental action is hugely powerful, as demonstrated at COP27 and other key climate events around the world.
The Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL), a global education charity based at the Living Rainforest Centre in West Berkshire, UK, works with schools and students to lift their voices and support the charity’s key vision: a world in which everyone is educated and empowered to achieve a sustainable future.
Since 2011, the TSL have been hosting an annual International Student Essay and Video competition, engaging over 12,000 students and 2,500 teachers in 117 countries, enabling them to explore ideas and share their voices on a variety of global sustainability challenges.
Through international debates and education summits, the event provides a platform for youth discussions on sustainability issues and solutions — while also serving as an opportunity for students and teachers interested in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to engage with governments, scientists, industry, and youth experts on topics ranging from sustainable cities and ocean protection, to addressing inequality and climate change.
Watch this panel discussion, where former competition winners talk about the issues of greatest concern to them, and share their perspective on their governments’ efforts towards sustainability.
The Trust for Sustainable Living is now accepting entries for its 2024 International Student Essay Competition: “How can nature help us achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals in my community?”
Nature provides us with everything we need to survive and thrive – clean air and water, food, materials for shelter, medicines and so much more. Many people believe that nature can help us tackle major global challenges such as climate change, food and water security, biodiversity loss and disaster risk reduction, as well as improving human health, societal wellbeing and developing sustainable economies.
Open to young people aged 7 to 18, TSL wants to hear students’ own views on how they feel that nature can support the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in their own communities.
Students are invited to approach the topic however they choose. They can focus on one or more SDGs that are most pertinent to their communities, and explore how nature can help. They are strongly encouraged to include their own views, perspectives and experiences to bring their visions to life.
The judges are looking for originality and creativity in all formats – and the potential to contribute to constructive national or international debate. Unique and well-argued perspectives score highly.
For full details on competition entry requirements and how to register can be found on TSL’s website here.
‘Sustainable Solutions Towards Net Zero’
With COP28 on the horizon, the spotlight on sustainability has never been more intense. The collective efforts of organisations, governments, and individuals toward combating climate change and striving for a net-zero future are paramount.
Join us for the launch of ‘Sustainable Solutions Towards Net Zero,’ a news-style programme highlighting the initiatives in motion. Launching on November 29th, the programme will shed light on the efforts underway to address climate change and drive us towards a sustainable, net-zero world.
