Climate Choices Schools Awards
About the Awards
Schools play an important role in teaching sustainability. The knowledge and skills learned in schools can be shared with the whole community.
The Climate Choices Schools Awards is an annual event. It celebrates students, staff and school leaders in climate action and sustainability.
The Awards also recognise schools’ efforts across the Sustainable Schools Program focus areas:
- biodiversity
- energy
- waste
- water
- curriculum integration.
Who can take part
In 2025, the Sustainable Schools Program team selected award recipients from:
- Schools that are engaged with Sustainable Schools Program Online (SSP Online),
- Schools that have inspired and contributed to building Sustainable School networks,
- Schools that participated in the Schools Climate Action Conference, and
- Students who entered the Sustainable Steps Poster Competition.
2025 Award categories
For a staff member who is leading engagement with SSP Online in 2025 at a school which has not yet gained star accreditation.
The Award winner’s school has completed the most actions in SSP Online. Schools which gained star accreditation in 2025 are not eligible for this award.
This new award is non-competitive and recognises schools that attend quarterly Sustainability Buddies Networking events and engage in mentoring partnerships.
For the school with the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 per student, as calculated in SSP Online.
The winning school must demonstrate excellent resource management and efficient resource consumption.
This award is for ACT school students from preschool to year 6 who won their category or were highly commended in the 2025 Sustainable Steps Poster Competition for each of the below categories:
- juniors (preschool and kindergarten)
- lower primary (years 1 and 2)
- mid primary (years 3 and 4)
- upper primary (years 5 and 6)
For a school that sent a student team to the Schools Climate Action Conference in April 2025. The award goes to the school whose team's actions after the conference had the greatest impact on sustainability.
2025 Award Winners
At a ceremony on 9 December 2025, awards were given in 5 award categories. Read about the 2025 award winners.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.