Hampstead Norreys, Berkshire, UK – 22 July 2025

A catchy rap song about eco-anxiety, featuring the sounds of falling trees and news clips of Greta Thunberg and the “No Planet B” protests – was recently crowned the winner of the world’s leading sustainability competition for school kids worldwide.

LISTEN NOW: THERE’S NO PLANET B

For the competition’s 15th anniversary, the Trust for Sustainable Living education charity opened up entries to all forms of creative expression. Michelle Amadiegwu, the 14-year-old winner from Dartford Grammar School for Girls in southeast London, was happy she didn’t have to write an essay.

“In my school geography class, we had to enter and I didn’t want to do an essay. So when I saw that we could enter a rap or anything creative, I chose to do that,” Michelle said. “I usually do musical projects for my homework so I decided to do it here as well, but I never thought I was going to be a finalist.”

Every year, the competition provides a global platform for young people to learn from each other and explore positive solutions to the global sustainability crisis.

This year’s competition challenged children (ages 7-18) to come up with creative responses to the growing problem of eco-anxiety. With 50% more entries than ever before, the record response showed that eco-anxiety is something students feel passionately about all around the world.

A full list of winning students worldwide in this year’s International Competition & Debates is available on the TSL website.

Students worldwide responded with creative solutions to eco-anxiety

At the Student Debates in July, the top-performing primary and secondary students from around the world explored positive actions people can take.

The Primary Student Debates focused on practical “eco-actions” to reduce anxiety, while the Secondary Student Debates explored the role of the media – both traditional and new/social media – in either magnifying or helping to fight eco-anxiety.

• Listen to Michelle’s song, There’s No Planet B – now available on all major music streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music

• Watch the music video, featuring clips from this year’s International Student Debates

• Watch the Secondary Students Debate on Eco-anxiety & the Media (July 2025):

• Watch the winning primary student entry: Voice from an 8-year-old citizen of Vietnam by Do Dinh Nhat Vuong:

Take part & support next year’s competition

The 2026 competition theme is HOW TO CREATE A SUSTAINABILITY CULTURE.

Registration opens September 2025 – see www.trustforsustainableliving.org

For the last 15 years, the competition has been funded by revenue from visitors to The Living Rainforest centre in the UK, which is home to over 800 species of rainforest animals and plants including a two-toed sloth, blue poison dart frogs and rare orchids. The competition provides a global platform for youth voices but the competition’s future is in jeopardy due to the current global economic crisis. TSL relies on public support more than ever in these challenging times.

Please support TSL and The Living Rainforest: VISIT – DONATE – SHARE

ADDITIONAL QUOTES

Rebekah Kidd, Assistant Headteacher, Dartford Grammar School for Girls: “We try and promote creative activities. Some students that find exams hard, really shine when given the space to do things differently. Over the last few years, competing in the competition has had a really positive impact on our students.”

Akudo Amadiegwu (Michelle’s mother): “We would like to thank TSL for the incredible opportunity this competition has availed children from different countries, from Nigeria to Fiji to have a say and amplify their voices and contribute to the discourse.”

PRESS ENQUIRIES & FURTHER INFORMATION
press@trustforsustainableliving.org

MEDIA RELEASE – There’s No Planet B rap by 14 year old wins global competition FINAL UK 22July2025
For more information on TSL & The Living Rainforest, see www.trustforsustainableliving.org and www.livingrainforest.org