Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) Essay Competition to hear students’ own views on how they feel that nature can support the achievement of the SDGs in their own communities.
Students are invited to approach the topic however they wish. They can choose to focus on one SDG, or multiple SDGs that they feel are a key issue within their communities and explore how nature could help to improve the situation.
They are strongly encouraged to include their own personal views, perspectives and experiences to help bring their thoughts and visions alive.
Fact About The TSL Essay Competition
- Global Impact: The TSL Essay Competition has inspired thousands of young minds worldwide to think creatively about sustainability and the environment.
- UN-recognized: The competition aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), empowering students to contribute to global solutions.
- Cash Prizes: Winners receive lucrative awards, including a £1000 grand prize and £500 for their school.
- International Recognition: Finalists and Honourable Mentions receive personalized e-certificates, boosting their academic and professional profiles.
- Debate Platform: Top students engage in international debates, exchanging ideas and shaping the future of sustainability.
- No Borders: Students from diverse backgrounds and countries participate, fostering global collaboration and understanding.
- Originality Matters: Judges prioritize unique perspectives and creative solutions, encouraging students to think outside the box.
- AI-friendly (with rules): TSL allows AI tool usage, promoting responsible AI integration in research and writing.
- Teacher Champions: Educators play a vital role, guiding students and receiving recognition for their dedication.
- Life-Changing Opportunities: Past winners have gone on to become influential environmental leaders, activists, and innovators.
Details For 2025 Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) Essay Competition For Young Students
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.
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.
Requirements For 2025 Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) Essay Competition For Young Students
All work should be original and the student’s own. A bibliography of references should be included where appropriate and will not be counted as part of the official word limit. Essays with plagiarised content will not be considered for an award.
If students choose to use AI to support them in their research, then it is important they do not use AI tools to generate an essay and submit it as if it was their own work. The use of generative AI must be acknowledged in the bibliography (as detailed below) where it has been used as a functional tool to assist in the process of creating essays.
Minimum requirement to include in bibliography:
- Name and version of the generative AI system used; e.g. ChatGPT-3.5
- Publisher (company that made the AI system); e.g. OpenAI
- URL of the AI system.
- Brief description (single sentence) of context in which the tool was used.
- The prompt(s) used to generate a response in the AI system.
For example: I acknowledge the use of ChatGPT 3.5 (Open AI, https://chat.openai.com) to summarise my initial notes and to proofread my final draft.
Rewards For 2025 Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) Essay Competition For Young Students
- One overall Grand Prize Winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of £1000 and £500 for their school,
- One Runner Up receiving a trophy and a cash prize of £500 and £250 for their school (cash prizes paid in local currency).
- All participating Teacher Champions, Essay Finalists & Honourable Mentions, and International Debate participants, will receive personalised e-certificates.
Key dates For 2025 Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) Essay Competition For Young Students
- September 2024: TSL 2025 Competition Launch – ECO ANXIETY. Registration for Teacher Champions/Schools to participate in the TSL 2025 Student Competition will open on the TSL Submittable page on 4th October.
- 03 March 2025: Final deadline for all entries.
- 01 May 2025: Announcement of International Competition 2025 Finalists & Honourable Mentions on TSL website
- 23 May 2025: Top Ten Finalists from Primary and Secondary categories notified via Teacher Champion.
- 27-28 May 25: Invitations to participate in the International Student Debates sent to eligible students via their Teacher Champion.
- Summer 2025: International Student Debates & Awards (online)
Note:
The essay length varies by age as follows:
- Primary students (ages 7-11): 400 words
- Secondary and College students (ages 12-18): 600 words
How To Apply For 2024 Trust for Sustainable Living (TSL) Essay Competition For Young Students
Interested and qualified applicants should apply using the link below