Outstanding achievements celebrated at Climate Ambassadors 2025 Awards

An Taisce’s Climate Ambassadors Drove Climate Actions, Reaching 1.9 Million In 2025. 

Outstanding Achievements Recognised At Inspirational Award Ceremony

Banner image: An Taisce’s Cathy Baxter, Director of Education and Community Action (back far left), and Grainne Ryan, Climate Action Programme Manager (back far right), are pictured with Individual Outstanding Achievement winners at An Taisce’s annual Climate Ambassador Awards. Back Row from Left to Right: An Taisce’s Cathy Baxter, Director of Education and Community Action, then Awardees Áine Coll (UCD Student, Donegal), Pierce Lowe (UCC Student, Dublin), Lill Coyne (Meath), Sacred Heart School Tullamore teacher Clare Faherty and An Taisce’s Grainne Ryan, Climate Action Programme Manager. Bottom row seated from left to right, Awardees John Lyons (Macroom Tidy Towns, Cork), Franek Dobronski (DCU Student, Carlow), Kay Synott (GRETB Moycullen).

All photos by Conor Healy / Picture It Photography

An Taisce’s annual Climate Ambassador Awards took place on Saturday, 22nd November in the historic Tailors’ Hall, Dublin 8, the same room that President Catherine Connolly recently delivered a powerful speech and promise of climate justice.

The room was filled with a wonderfully diverse group of people, differing from the counties they call home, their generation, occupation, interests, skills, life experiences, and journey, but they all shared a common connection as Climate Ambassadors and their dedication to planet protection.

Cathy Baxter, Director of Education and Community Action, said, “I am delighted to present the Climate Ambassador Awards this evening on behalf of An Taisce and want to acknowledge how this programme fosters a dynamic network of changemakers, driving awareness, sustainability and behavioural change at a local and often national level”. 

(Photo above: Back Row from Left to Right: Sacred Heart School Tullamore TY students, Grace Ward, Fiadh Brennan, Brynn Mulhall and An Taisce’s Cathy Baxter, Director of Education and Community Action. Front row from Left to Right, student Angie Sewell, their Sacred Heart School Tullamore teacher Clare Faherty, and student Migle Vasiliauskaite. Group winners at An Taisce’s annual Climate Ambassador Awards, which took place on the 22nd of November in Dublin. 

Photo above: An Taisce’s Cathy Baxter, Director of Education and Community Action pictured with Outstanding Achievement winner Sheila Cullan, writer, Dublin, at An Taisce’s annual Climate Ambassador Awards, which took place on the 22nd of November in Dublin.

The honoured Climate Ambassadors represent organic farmers and horticulturists, Lions Clubbers, educators, sustainable travellers, active retirees, Tidy Towners, TY and college students. 

133 Climate Ambassadors were trained by An Taisce’s Climate Action Team earlier this year, and together they delivered 471 climate actions, directly engaging over 216,000 people. The group also released 521 climate communications, reaching an estimated 1.9 million people in 2025!

The Climate Ambassador Programme, with the support of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, has been in operation since 2017. It continues to expand, as proactive citizens decide to upskill in climate science, solutions and communications, enabling them, with support from An Taisce and a strong network of dedicated peers, to carry out climate action.

Throughout the year, Climate Ambassadors engaged their communities in enhancing biodiversity, coastal conservation, freshwater ecology, the circular economy, environmental education, nature restoration, sustainable travel, climate communication through the arts, sustainable energy, tree planting, rewilding, peatland preservation, flood mapping and prevention, and environmental advocacy. In addition to their impressive impact and extensive list of achievements, An Taisce also commends this year’s Climate Ambassadors for uniting communities, boosting neighbourhood bonds, building trust, bridging generational gaps, and playing an important role in shaping Ireland’s future.

Inspired to become a Climate Ambassador? 

Applications are now open to apply to take part in the 2026 Climate Ambassador Programme. Climate change effects are being felt on a local, national and global scale, so now, more than ever, we need people from all areas and all walks of life to unite in meaningful climate action! 

No previous experience is required to become a Climate Ambassador with An Taisce. You don’t have to be a climate expert to join the programme. Participants are trained in climate literacy, solutions and leadership. They unite at innovative events and take part in festivals, including the National Climate Action Week. In return, Climate Ambassadors are asked to carry out at least two climate actions and two climate communications to pay forward climate action in their communities. 

Climate Ambassador Outstanding Achievement Awards 2025

Name

Community

County
  1. Áine Coll

UCD Student

Donegal
  1. John Lyons

Macroom Tidy Towns

Cork
  1. Michael Carroll

Tullamore Lions Club

Offaly
  1. Kay Synott

GRETB Moycullen

Galway
  1. Franek Dobronski

DCU Student

Carlow
  1. Pierce Lowe

UCC Student

Dublin
  1. Sheila Cullan

Writer

Dublin
  1. Lill Coyne

Gardeners Dynamic

Meath
  1. Brian Meredith & Vito Romito

Organic Beef Farmer & ESB Fisheries Conservation

Laois
  1. Students: Angela Sewell, Brynn Mulhall, Fiadh Brennan, Grace Ward, Hawi Okello, Isabel Hayes, Migle Vasiliauskaite

Teacher: Clare Faherty

Sacred Heart School Tullamore

Offaly
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