Luke Gibbons, aged 27 and hailing from Claremorris, Co Mayo, has gained international recognition as one of the world’s top young educators in the environmental field. The prestigious Top 30 Under 30 Environmental Educators of 2024 award was revealed in Washington this past week, and it honours those working with diverse audiences to confront pervasive environmental and societal challenges within their locales. Numerous recipients are actively confronting the climate emergency.
Graduating from Trinity College Dublin and the University of Oxford, Mr Gibbons was the sole nominee from the European Union, and was chosen based on his exceptional track record in advancing environmental education and research. As a scholar funded by the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland, Gibbons is currently a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin. He has previously held positions as a Fulbright scholar and a visiting researcher at Harvard Law School in the United States. His research work delves into the responsibilities of company directors and climate change risks.
In February, Gibbons was included in the Top 40 Under 40 Irish in America. Additionally, he serves as a “climate reality leader” as appointed by Al Gore, former vice-president of the US. This December, he will uphold Ireland’s representation at the Global Peace Summit in New York, having been given the responsibility to debate Ireland’s prospective capacity to sway climate change politics.
Upon receiving this recognition, Gibbons commented, “While I am fortunate to have already had numerous accomplishments in my career thus far, this one feels particularly significant as it affirms the positive impact I am striving to have on the comprehension of the urgency to tackle the climate crisis for both present and future generations.”