Each year we run the Global Sustainable Development Competition. This is an exciting opportunity for school students in year 11 and 12 (aged between 15 and 17 years) to think creatively and gain valuable research skills as they learn more about global sustainable development.

Since it was first established, we have expanded the types of entries that can be submitted to include videos, podcasts and poetry, as well as more traditional essay responses. This is in line with our aim to engage with students from a variety of different backgrounds and interests, giving them the chance to present different perspectives on issues of global sustainable development.

This year, entrants addressed the following questions:

• Do you think the society we live in can be sustainable or do we need to change our habits fundamentally?
• What do you think are the biggest sustainable development challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic?
• What would be the most desirable outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26)?

In the five years that we have run the competition, this year we have received the highest number of entries yet! Our judging panel reviewed the entries, selecting the shortlist and the overall winners. The panel included:

Shortlisted entrants were invited to participate in a virtual event on Friday 9 July 2021. The session was led by Dr Marta Guerriero and co-designed by two of our second-year student ambassadors, Naomi Brandon-Bravo and Igne Borisaite, who also formed part of the judging panel. Shortlisted entrants joined the session from far and wide:

The first half of the session involved interactive discussions linked to global sustainable development. Participants were asked to think about 'what makes our society unsustainable?', and were presented a series of prompts prepared by our student ambassadors.

^{Data adapted by John Vidal, originally from WWF, 2014}

One of the prompts (left) invited participants to discuss language with regard to sustainability. They considered the importance of culture, the impact of colonialism on indigenous communities, and the link between language loss and climate refugees.

"Sustainability means sustainability for everyone. For centuries, there have been systematic oppression against minority groups. If we do not get rid of these problems, the following will happen: 1) Our mindset will further disregard these minority groups, as our society encourages us to not really listen to their voices 2) Our solutions will be biased and tuned towards ourselves and not the minorities 3) We will not be able to see who is in dire need of help 4) We will become increasingly ignorant."

GSD competition event participant

^{Image credit: CreakyJoints, 2019}

Another prompt (left) highlighted the negative effects of plastic straw alternatives for disabled people. Participants were encouraged to discuss the trade-offs of achieving all three pillars of sustainability. In this case, the priority on environmental sustainability negatively impacted social inclusivity. This allowed participants to think about the challenges of achieving a fully sustainable society.

The winners!

After the interactive activity, we announced the commended submissions, runners-up, and winners of the competition:

The winners and runners up will be awarded vouchers. In addition, the winner of the ‘Essay’ category and the winner of the 'Creative' category have the opportunity to publish their work in GLOBUS, the School for Cross-faculty Studies’ student-run sustainability journal. We will also be gifting a tree-planting certificate for each of the shortlisted entries.

Many congratulations to the winners and all of the shortlisted entrants!