Enniscorthy Climate Champions Challenge:
How this community in Wexford is leading the way in CO₂ savings
Last month, the town of Enniscorthy came together in a spirited display of environmental commitment during the Enniscorthy Climate Champions Competition.
The initiative invited community and voluntary groups, workplaces, and schools to take part in a fun, team-based challenge to reduce their carbon footprint; and the results were truly inspiring.
The competition was designed to raise awareness of personal climate impact while encouraging teams to take part in simple, everyday climate actions. From shorter showers to eating more vegetables, and cycling instead of driving, participants explored practical ways to reduce their emissions. Actions were logged on our online challenge platform, which calculated each team’s total CO₂ savings over a two-week period and displayed live progress via a public scoreboard.
🏆 And the Winners Were…
We were delighted to announce the following category winners:
- Enniscorthy Community Allotments
- Enniscorthy Municipal District
- Meánscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy
These teams topped the charts in their respective categories and were recognised at a ceremony in the Astro Active Centre, Bellefield earlier this month. Awards were presented by Frank Burke and Clare Kelly from the Climate Action Team, along with Keith Magee from Global Action Plan.
Awards With a Difference
In line with the competition’s values, the trophies themselves were sustainably produced. Crafted by the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun, the awards were made from repurposed solid oak floorboards salvaged from a restoration project in County Wexford. They featured laser engraving (eliminating the need for metal or plastic nameplates), water-based pigments, and a natural beeswax finish.
The Climate Impact
The collective effort made a significant environmental difference:
- 10.669 tonnes of CO₂eq saved
- 14,324 activities logged
- 127kg CO₂eq average savings per participant
These numbers reflect real, measurable climate action — achieved through everyday behaviours, repeated consistently across dozens of teams.
Purpose and Positivity
The goal of the competition was clear: to reduce personal emissions through positive lifestyle changes, all while having fun and building awareness.