Dear World: The Irish Times children’s climate writing competition

The climate crisis is becoming ever more urgent and children's voices are an important part of the conversation about our future. As more than 190 world leaders prepare to meet at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November, we want to hear what Ireland's young people have to say to them. So today, we are launching Dear World, The Irish Times children's climate writing competition, in association with Smurfit Kappa.

We want to hear from young people across Ireland, to hear your opinions, hopes and ideas. What are your fears and frustrations about climate change? What solutions do you see for our planet? What action do you want to see our leaders take?

How do you enter?

We want school students to write an open letter to world leaders, sharing your thoughts on the environmental crisis facing the world.

Your letter can be up to 300 words. Entries can be submitted in Irish or English.

How a polluted Scottish city is driving UK switch to electric vehicles

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Why can’t we live healthier lives to save ourselves and the planet?

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Can the smoky fuels ban be made to work environmentally? What about fuel poverty?

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You can write in any style you like: it could be a personal letter based on your own experience, a reflection on the challenges facing your generation, a global view of what must be done to avert the worst - or a combination of all three.

There are two categories of entry:
- Primary school
- Secondary school.

Entries may be uploaded using the form in this article. Closing date is 11.59pm on October 9th, 2021. Full terms and conditions below.

The judges

The judging panel, chaired by Irish Times Magazine editor Rachel Collins, is:

Éanna Ní Lamhna, Irish biologist, environmental consultant, broadcaster, author and educator.

Kayle Crosson, editor of Irish environmental and climate news publication, Green News.

The winner

The two winners and a selection of shortlisted entries will be published in The Irish Times and on irishtimes.com in late October, prior to the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties.

Prizes

Each of the winning entries will secure a bundle of 20 books from Children’s Books Ireland for the letter writer, plus a €2,000 grant for their school, to be spent on green initiatives.

Shortlisted entrants may be filmed reading your letter to world leaders, and these will be presented on irishtimes.com.

Terms & conditions

1. The Promoter is The Irish Times DAC, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2.

2. Employees or agents of The Irish Times and their families or any other persons connected with this competition are not eligible to enter.

3. In order to enter the Promotion you must submit your entry of 300 words or less by 11.59pm on October 9^th, 2021. Entries received after this date will not be considered. Applications must be made in accordance with the terms and conditions and any entry instructions to be deemed eligible. All enter instructions form part of the rules.

4. By submitting material to us, you implicitly acknowledge and agree that the material may be published in the printed edition of The Irish Times, on the irishtimes.com website and on other digital products and services offered by us and on Smurfit Kappa’s website and social media channels from time to time including but not limited to mobile applications and in any other publication of our choosing, at our sole discretion.

5. Submission of material does not guarantee publication and the decision to publish material is at the sole discretion of the Promoter. The Promoter reserves the right to contact you in order to obtain further information in relation to the material submitted. In addition, we may publish, check, edit or remove all or part of any material which you submit to us, at our sole discretion but we are under no obligation to take any of the above steps.

6. All material submitted for publication must be true, complete and accurate information. If you provide any information that is untrue, incomplete or inaccurate; or if we have reasonable grounds to suspect that such information is untrue, incomplete or inaccurate, The Irish Times reserves the right to not publish the material submitted and to amend or remove the material submitted as we see fit.

7. No material which could, in The Irish Times’ view, be considered to be offensive, unlawful, defamatory, plagiarized or otherwise objectionable should be summited by you nor will any such material will be published by us and The Irish Times’ decision in this regard will be final.

8. By submitting the material, you agree to assign all intellectual property rights in that material to The Irish Times and to the extent permitted by law, you waive your moral rights. You acknowledge that we own all intellectual property rights in any material published by us in any publication of our choosing, including but not limited to The Irish Times printed edition, on www.irishtimes.com, and on any other digital products offered by us from time to time and on Smurfit Kappa’ website and social media channels.

9. You agree to indemnify and keep indemnified The Irish Times and its officers, directors, employees and data providers from any and all claims, liabilities, costs and expenses, including legal costs, in relation to any action or complaint taken by a third party against The Irish Times in relation to the publication of any material submitted by you or arising out of a breach by you these Terms and Conditions.

10. If you are under the age of 18 you should obtain the permission of your parent or guardian before entering. Prior to publishing any material submitted by you we will require the explicit consent of your parent or legal guardian. We reserve the right to verify this consent by making contact with your parent or guardian. We may also offer, at our sole direction to film you reading your entry which may be published on  www.irishtimes.com, and on any other digital products offered by us from time to time and on Smurfit Kappa’ website and social media channels. Before participating in such filming we will require the explicit consent of your parent or guardian if you are under the age of 18 and we reserve the right to verify this consent by making contact with your parent or guardian.

11. Entrants may be invited to participate in PR – including filming and photography. If you do not wish to participate in this it does not affect your rights. We will require the explicit consent of your parent or guardian for your participation in such PR activities if you are under the age of 18 and we may at our discretion verify that consent by making contact with your parent or guardian.

12. All prizes are non-transferrable and no cash alternative will be offered. All prizes will be subject to any additional terms and conditions of the supplier of the prize to the Promoter. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes for alternative prizes of a greater or equal value.

13. The Promoter reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions and suspend the promotion in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

14. Entry to the Promotion shall be deemed full and unconditional acceptance of the terms and conditions.

15. Any personal data processed by the Promoter shall be processed in accordance with our privacy policy [insert link to privacy policy].

16. The winners will be selected by a panel of judges, at least one of whom is independent of the promoter and the winners will those who in the sole discretion of the judging panel, submit the best written entries.

17. The promoters’ decision is final and binding in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into.

18. If any part or provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, this shall not affect the validity of any other part or provision of these Terms and Conditions.

19. These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of Ireland and subject to the jurisdictiton of the Irish Courts.