Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is leading a student-led approach to climate action and sustainability aligned with the national Climate Action Mandate and Ireland’s 2030 decarbonisation targets. Through its Climate Team, the ETB focuses on behavioural change, climate awareness and stakeholder engagement across schools, Further Education and Training (FET) campuses, and offices. Recognising the need for collaboration across a geographically dispersed organisation, the Climate Team develops innovative initiatives to connect ETB schools and inspire practical climate and sustainability action.

A key milestone in this approach was the launch of the “Make a Switch” competition in 2024, encouraging schools to tackle waste reduction through creative projects focused on the principles of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The initiative has successfully increased climate awareness, collaboration and student-led engagement, fostering a sense of ETB community and shared values. Building on this momentum, the ETB is planning to expand the competition to FET campuses, creating further opportunities for collaboration, idea-sharing and replication of best practice in climate action and sustainability. This presentation will give an overview of the “Make a Switch” competition and feature the overall winning student with their award winning project.