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Are you passionate about climate crisis and the environment in general? If yes, you should apply for this opportunity! Applications are open for the Trust for Sustainable Living International Student Competition 2025.
Opportunity Details
Since their first competition was launched in 2010, Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) has 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 their 15th year of International Student Competitions, they are excited to launch the next competition inviting students to share their original, creative and expressive responses to the theme, From Eco-Anxiety to Eco Action & Empowerment.
About 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.
You will be able to upload your competition entries via the link to the application website.
As a reminder:
Accepted file formats: DOC, DOCX, PDF, JPG, PNG, MP3 or MP4
Maximum file size: 400MB (for any file type)
Word limit: Written entries should be a maximum 600 words (not including the bibliography and 250 word maximum self reflection)
Duration limit: Video or audio pieces should be a maximum of 3 minutes long
To help them ensure an anonymised judging process, please ensure that the student’s name and school name are not included in the uploaded files, these should only be included where specified on the entry form.
All entries should include 250 word (maximum) self-reflection on the project by the students. This is an open reflection but could include, for example, what they have learnt by participating, any skills they have developed, what their ‘take away’ from the project is, what they have enjoyed or found challenging, or any actions they have been inspired to take as a result of taking part.
If the entry is a non-written piece, it needs to be accompanied by a short explanation of the piece (maximum 200 words) as well as the self reflection. This can be uploaded as a separate document.
Apply for Trust for Sustainable Living International Student Competition