Climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity are now urgent global challenges. With that, sustainability has become an important field of study across science, economics, public policy, and engineering. Universities such as Stanford, Columbia, and Arizona State have established academic programs dedicated to addressing these issues. This reflects the growing demand for interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges.
For high school students interested in sustainability, essay competitions are a good opportunity to explore these topics beyond the classroom. Students can investigate the underlying causes, evaluate potential solutions, and develop informed perspectives through research and writing.
1. What Is Sustainability?
Sustainability refers to meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. It encompasses three interconnected dimensions: environmental protection, economic development, and social well-being.
While sustainability is often associated with climate change and conservation, the field addresses a much broader range of questions. These include:
- How can cities reduce carbon emissions without placing disproportionate costs on low-income communities?
- What role should businesses play in protecting natural resources?
- How can governments balance economic growth with long-term environmental responsibility?
Students interested in pursuing sustainability at university may consider majors such as Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Sustainability Studies, Environmental Engineering, or Environmental Policy. Depending on the program, their studies may combine ecology, climate science, statistics, economics, and environmental law with practical research or fieldwork.
2. Why Should High School Students Enter Sustainability Essay Competitions?
Sustainability essay competitions offer high school students an opportunity to explore these academic interests before choosing a college major. Through independent research and writing, participants can begin identifying the environmental issues and disciplines that interest them most.
Develop a Deeper Understanding of Environmental Issues
Writing a well-supported essay about sustainability requires students to move beyond general awareness of environmental problems and examine the scientific, economic, and social factors behind them.
For example, an essay about ocean plastic pollution might involve investigating waste management systems, examining research on marine ecosystems, and evaluating the effectiveness of different policy interventions.
Through this process, students develop subject knowledge and a more nuanced understanding of why environmental problems are often difficult to solve.
Strengthen Research, Critical Thinking, and Academic Writing Skills
Many sustainability-related competitions require participants to investigate complex questions, assess evidence, and communicate their conclusions persuasively. Students must learn to distinguish reliable research from unsupported claims, compare competing perspectives, and build arguments that acknowledge both the strengths and limitations of proposed solutions.
These skills are particularly relevant to university-level work, where students are expected to conduct independent research and develop evidence-based arguments.
115 Aralia Students Named John Locke Essay Competition 2026 Shortlists!
With instruction from faculty in leading universities, Aralia’s international competition preparation programs have helped thousands of students worldwide pursue academic excellence and earn recognition in prestigious international competitions.
Demonstrate Academic Interests in College Applications
For students considering environmental science, sustainability, or related majors, participating in a relevant writing competition can provide evidence of sustained academic interest.
However, the value of participation extends beyond earning recognition. The research process, questions explored, and conclusions developed can provide meaningful material for college application essays and interviews.
Admissions officers may gain a clearer understanding of a student’s intellectual interests when competition participation forms part of a broader pattern of coursework, independent projects, community involvement, or environmental initiatives.
Explore Sustainability Through Different Disciplines
Not every student interested in sustainability plans to pursue environmental science. Environmental challenges also intersect with economics, politics, engineering, literature, and the arts.
A student interested in economics might examine carbon pricing policies, while someone passionate about creative writing could explore the relationship between human communities and the natural environment through poetry or storytelling.
Because sustainability competitions encompass multiple writing formats and subject areas, they allow students to explore environmental topics through the disciplines that best match their interests and strengths.
Aralia Students Are 4x More Likely to Publish a Research Paper
3. 7 Sustainability Essay Contests for High Schoolers
1. Blue Planet Awareness Contest (previously the Ocean Awareness Contest)
Organized by the nonprofit Bow Seat, the Blue Planet Awareness Contest is an international creative competition that encourages young people to explore environmental issues through writing, visual art, film, and other creative mediums.
The 2027 theme, “Nature of Truth: Environmentalism in an Age of Disinformation,” challenges students to investigate how misleading information influences public understanding of environmental issues and can undermine environmental action. Participants might explore topics such as climate misinformation, greenwashing, or the role of artificial intelligence in spreading misleading environmental claims.
For students interested in writing, the competition offers two relevant categories: Creative Writing, which accepts fiction and creative nonfiction, and Poetry & Spoken Word. Submissions must demonstrate originality, engage meaningfully with the annual theme, and include a written reflection explaining the student’s creative process and what they learned.
Eligibility: Students ages 11 to 18 anywhere in the world who are enrolled in middle school, high school, or a homeschool equivalent may enter individually or in groups. Entrants compete in the Junior Division (ages 11 to 14) or the Senior Division (ages 15 to 18) and must provide the contact information of an adult sponsor.
Cost: Free
Submission Deadline: June 7, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (EDT).
2. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Established in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is one of the longest-running recognition programs for creative teenagers in the United States. It welcomes original work across a wide range of categories, including Critical Essay, Personal Essay & Memoir, Poetry, and Short Story.
Students interested in sustainability can explore environmental themes through several writing formats, from researching climate policy and environmental justice to writing personal narratives about the effects of climate change on their communities.
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12, ages 13 and older, attending school and residing in the United States, eligible U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada (excluding Quebec).
Writing Categories: Critical Essay, Personal Essay & Memoir, Poetry, Short Story, and other eligible writing categories.
Submission Deadline: Varies by region, from December 1, 2026, through January 4, 2027. Students should check their regional deadline on the official website.
3. Young Reporters for the Environment International Competition
The Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) International Competition encourages students to investigate environmental challenges in their communities and communicate potential solutions through journalism. Participants can submit written articles, photography, videos, podcasts, or other creative formats.
The 2026–2027 theme, “Small Worlds, Big Futures: Reporting from a Pollinator-Powered 2030,” invites students to explore the importance of pollinators and their connections to biodiversity, food systems, and environmental sustainability. However, participants may also investigate other environmental issues relevant to their communities.
Eligibility: Young people ages 11–25, divided into three age groups (11–14, 15–18, and 19–25). Participants generally enter through a school, university, or youth organization affiliated with YRE. Entries must qualify through a national or participating network competition before advancing internationally.
Submission Deadline: May 5, 2027, for international submissions. National deadlines vary by country and may be earlier.
4. Green Stories Writing Competition
The Green Stories Project, led by Professor Denise Baden at the University of Southampton, organizes creative writing competitions that encourage participants to imagine a more sustainable future. Unlike traditional environmental essay contests, Green Stories focuses on solution-oriented storytelling, encouraging writers to incorporate realistic environmental solutions into engaging fictional narratives.
Past competitions have featured short stories, flash fiction, and novels across different genres. Participants are encouraged to go beyond describing the consequences of climate change and instead explore how sustainable technologies, policies, and everyday behaviors could improve society. Environmental themes can be central to the plot or incorporated subtly through characters and their choices.
Eligibility: Varies by competition. Some previous contests accepted participants under 18, while others were restricted to adults.
Writing Requirements: Vary by format. Submissions generally must be written in English, unpublished, and incorporate environmental solutions. Certain competitions also require participants to read a Green Stories publication or an eligible sample.
Submission Deadline: No 2027 writing competition deadline has been announced as of November 2026. Students can check the official competition updates for future opportunities.
5. California Coastal Commission Climate Storytelling Contest
Organized by the California Coastal Commission, the Climate Storytelling Contest invites middle and high school students to explore their personal experiences and feelings about climate change and consider how those emotions can inspire meaningful action.
The 2027 competition asks students to respond to the prompt, “What are your feelings about climate change? How could those feelings lead to action?” Participants can choose from three formats: a personal narrative essay, a photo essay, or a podcast. Unlike traditional research-based essay competitions, this contest emphasizes personal reflection, storytelling, and the connection between environmental awareness and individual or community action.
For students interested in writing, the personal narrative category offers an opportunity to explore how climate change affects their lives and communities, drawing on experiences related to environmental conservation, extreme weather, or local climate initiatives. The California Coastal Commission also provides brainstorming prompts and educational resources to help students develop their ideas.
Eligibility: Middle and high school students in California, including homeschooled students. Students may enter independently or through a class project.
Submission Deadline: May 27, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. California time (PDT).
6. River of Words Poetry and Art Contest
Organized by the Center for Environmental Literacy at Saint Mary’s College of California, River of Words is an international poetry and art competition that encourages young people to explore their local environments and express their observations through creative work.
The competition emphasizes a personal connection to nature, particularly local watersheds, ecosystems, wildlife, and the relationship between people and their surroundings. Rather than asking students to write formal environmental essays, River of Words encourages participants to draw inspiration from their own experiences and observations. This makes the competition especially suitable for students interested in nature poetry and creative writing.
Students can submit original poetry or artwork, with winning and selected finalist entries published in the annual River of Words anthology.
Eligibility: Students ages 5–19 worldwide, enrolled in Pre-K through Grade 12 and not yet attending college. Participants compete in four age/grade divisions: K–2, Grades 3–5, Grades 6–8, and Grades 9–12.
Writing Requirements: Poems must not exceed 32 lines and may be written in English or Spanish. Each participant may submit up to five poems and five artworks, with a separate entry form required for each submission. AI-generated work is prohibited.
Submission Deadline: The 2027 international deadline has not yet been confirmed on the official website. The previous competition closed on January 31, 2026. Students should check the organizer’s website for updates.
7. Royal Geographical Society School Essay Competition
Organized by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in partnership with the Financial Times, the School Essay Competition invites students to investigate contemporary geographical issues through research-based writing. Past competition topics have explored sustainability, climate change, international trade, and other global challenges.
The 2026 competition focuses on migration, asking students to examine the factors driving migration, changing migration patterns, and their consequences, including the effects of climate change and geopolitical developments since 2020. Participants are expected to support their arguments with reliable evidence, relevant data, and referenced sources.
For students interested in environmental science, geography, sustainability, or public policy, the competition offers an opportunity to explore how environmental challenges intersect with economic, political, and social issues. Unlike creative writing competitions, it emphasizes analytical reasoning, independent research, and evidence-based conclusions.
Eligibility: Students aged 16–18 worldwide who are studying A Level Geography or an equivalent qualification, such as IB Geography, in their final two years of secondary school. Eligible U.S. students may qualify through geography studied as part of social studies.
Submission Deadline: November 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. GMT (closed). Results are expected by February 12, 2027. The next competition deadline has not yet been announced.
4. Prepare for Sustainability Essay Competitions with Aralia Education
Entering a contest becomes much easier when you have expert guidance, and that is exactly what Aralia Education offers. For students interested in environmental writing competitions, Aralia also offers Ocean Awareness Contest Preparation, which provides guidance on developing original ideas, structuring submissions, and refining written work.
Aralia also offers preparation classes for other well-known essay competitions, including the John Locke Essay Competition, the David McCullough Essay Prizes, and the GRC Social Impact Essay Competition, as well as AP Seminar and AP Research for students who want to practice research-based writing. To explore the full list of options, visit Aralia’s Writing Classes and start turning your passion for sustainability into award-winning writing.
