EirGrid Announced as New Climate Action and Energy Partner

Students from St. Mary's Holy Faith Secondary School in Killester help to launch the new Young Social Innovators and EirGrid partnership.

Young Social Innovators have announced a new partnership with EirGrid that will see the national electricity grid operator become the new Climate Action and Energy partner to YSI for a three year period.

The partnerhip will also see the launch of a new 'Climate Action and Energy' Award which will recognise young people's innovative efforts to create a more sustainable world by asking them to consider how we currently live and consume and how we can reduce the harmful impact of human activity on our natural environment and climate.

Commenting on the partnership, Rachel Collier, Co-founder and CEO, Young Social Innovators said, “We are delighted to announce this exciting new partnership with EirGrid, focused on what is undoubtedly the biggest challenge facing us globally. How we can live and consume more sustainably is a key question and one that young people can contribute to. This new award, in partnership with EirGrid, will recognise young people’s efforts to innovate around climate action and energy and will empower and engage them in being a vital part of the solutions needed.



Rachel Collier, CEO and Co-founder, Young Social Innovators, Sinead Dooley, EirGrid Head of Public Engagement with TY students from St. Mary's Holy Faith School Killester at the launch of the Young Social Innovators and EirGrid partnership.

Speaking about the partnership, EirGrid’s Head of Public Engagement, Sinead Dooley said, “EirGrid is transforming the power system for future generations, and with that in mind we believe it is incredibly important to listen to and involve young people who are the driving force behind climate action efforts.

“At EirGrid we engage for better outcomes for all and we recognise the value of creating a dialogue with the wider society. Going forward EirGrid intends to engage a broad range of stakeholders in in-depth, meaningful discussions about the future and the role of the grid. With this partnership we hope to learn a lot from young people across the island of Ireland and that we are challenged and inspired by their innovative ideas,” added Dooley.

The inaugral 'Climate Action and Energy' Award will be presented at the Young Social Innovators of the Year Awards this coming May. Young people have been increasingly addressing climate and energy related issues through YSI in recent years looking at issues around water conservation, sustainable fashion, ethical consumption and renewable energy. Teenagers nationwide are invited to sign up to Young Social Innovators and to consider how they can contribute to solutions for a greener more sustainable future.

How we can live and consume more sustainably is a key question and one that young people can contribute to. This new award, in partnership with Eirgrid, will recognise young people’s efforts to innovate around climate action and energy and will empower and engage them in being a vital part of the solutions needed.