What is YRE?

Welcome to Young Reporters for the Environment!

YRE was created by youth, for youth.

Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) is an environmental journalism programme and competition that gives young people aged 8 to 25 an opportunity to speak on environmental issues through writing, photography, podcasting or video.

We know that young people care deeply about the environment and believe in the importance of channelling that concern into actionable solutions. Through YRE, young influencers become powerful advocates within their communities, inspiring all those around them. Our young reporters are not simply inheriting a future sustainable world – they are the ones actively shaping it

YRE supports the development of communication, initiative-taking, and critical analysis meta-skills through storytelling, photography, and videography. The four steps of YRE provide young people with valuable life skills and knowledge to leverage media and their own voices.

For over 30 years the YRE programme has been encouraging young leaders to investigate environmental issues and drive positive, solution focused change. Scotland joined the YRE programme in 2013, and now in 2025 YRE reaches over half a million young people in 44 countries worldwide.

Through YRE, young people can learn:

How to conduct a good interview or questionnaire
How to find trustworthy sources of information and avoid disinformation
How to craft a good story with photos, videos or words
How to encourage others to take action for the environment

Competition Deadlines and How to Enter

The deadline for entries to the 2026 YRE competition is Earth Day 22 April 2026.

Results of the Scottish Competition are usually announced the second week of May.

International competition results are usually announced the first week in June.

All young people aged 8-25 are welcome to send in an entry either individually or in groups. YRE works for youth groups, school photography or yearbook clubs, Eco-Committees, home educators and uniform groups like Scouts or Girl Guides.

Video: Introducing YRE

In this video, we'll walk you through YRE competition, the steps required to submit your entry, and the resources available to help you.

Four Elements

Like its sister programme Eco-Schools, YRE is based on a set of Four Elements: Investigate, Research, Report, and Share. It also makes links to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Investigate

Start by choosing an environmental issue that affects your community. Gather information from primary and secondary sources. It might help to answer the questions: Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Find different perspectives and approaches to resolving the issue and examine historic, economic, social and political implications.

Research

Conduct original research such as surveys, questionnaires or interviews. Identify a possible solution and evaluate its effectiveness. What is being done to solve this environmental issue? What more could or should be done?

Report

Report on the issue and possible solution through a journalistic piece. This could be a photo, a series of photos, a video, a podcast or an article. Target a local audience. What media works best? Take a positive approach to inspiring change without shying away from criticism.

Share

Share your work with a local audience through different channels: social media, newspaper, magazine, TV, or radio, at an exhibition at a library or village hall, a film screening or a community meeting. You can also share your work on our Keep Scotland Beautiful blog.

Sustainable Development Goals

Have a look at the Sustainable Development Goals to link your issue to the bigger global picture. The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of global priorities for ensuring that economic, environmental, social and cultural wellbeing is achieved for everyone around the world.

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