As global leaders and business leaders sit down this week at COP 29th Summit with fresh urgency on the climate agenda, 26 young finalists in Wales gathered last Friday to make their bid to contribute to a greener, fairer, climate-smart world.

The 26 finals were selected from among 900 learners from four schools across Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire (Bryngwyn, QE High, Milford Haven and Bro Dinefwr) in a hackathon created in response to the new Curriculum for Wales and the country’s ambition for a Net Zero future.

The young changemakers brought fresh ideas for tourism, energy and fashion.

Judges were unanimous in their choice of the winning team from Queen Elizabeth High, Carmarthenshire (‘Fair Fashion’) who addressed the challenge of fast fashion waste by designing personalised soft toys that use waste fabric which would otherwise end up in landfill. In coming up with their solution, they impressed judges by showing insight into the scale and complexity of the problem, testing their idea with local businesses and charity shops, and developing a design prototype.

Other teams were also commended for their innovative ideas. Milford Haven School’s ‘Cafe Cleddau’ involved a solar-powered boat to connect communities up and down the Haven - tourists by day, party-goers by night. Their design included a ‘soft play’ area on deck, sustainable food snacks, and back-up hydro-powered batteries for cloudy days.

All finalist teams won vouchers for an ethical online store ‘Social Supermarket’ and the winning team a £300 cash prize to build biodiversity projects at their school.

The event - held annually - was hosted by Cymbrogi Futures - a Pembrokeshire-born education enterprise whose mission is to nurture and skill up ‘Tomorrow’s Changemakers’ for a net-zero future. It was the climax of a year-long learning programme supported by business partners committed to enabling a next generation of ‘green skills’ in Wales: the Port of Milford Haven, who operate the UK’s leading energy port, and Cwm Environmental, one of the country’s leading recycling centres.

A member of the judging panel, Samuel Kurtz, MS, said: “Witnessing the curiosity, bright ideas, and ingenuity of these students has been truly inspiring. Ambition is critical, and the enthusiasm and vision shown by these students demonstrate that they are ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities the world has to offer.

“I am confident that the students will gain immense value from this experience, and I look forward to seeing Cymbrogi continue to provide transformative opportunities for young people in the years to come.”

Anna Malloy, Communications and Marketing Director at the Port of Milford Haven added: “The Port is proud to be part of this incredible initiative, where young minds are coming together to shape the future of Wales in the face of climate change.

“As we work towards a net-zero future, it’s vital that we empower the next generation with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead the charge. The Tomorrow’s Changemakers programme is a testament to the power of community collaboration and the vital role we all play in driving positive change for future generations.”