Emilee O'Neill Receives International Green Mentor Award
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(Left) Thomas D. Hoop, Managing Economist, American Institutes for Research, (Middle) Emilee O’Neill, Senior Sustainability Analyst at KERAMIDA, (Right) Renars Raubiskis, Head of Project Management and International Relations, Institute of Economics of Latvian Academy of Scientists
We are thrilled to announce that Emilee O’Neill, Senior Sustainability Analyst at KERAMIDA, has been awarded the prestigious International Green Mentor Award 2024!
This honor, presented by the Green Mentors at the 8th NYC Green School Conference during Climate Week NYC, recognizes Emilee’s exceptional contributions to advancing sustainability and inclusion in both community and educational spaces.
Emilee’s passion for sustainability began in high school, inspired by her AP Environmental Science teacher, and has only grown stronger throughout her career. As the daughter of a superintendent, she has always had a deep connection to education, making her work at the intersection of sustainability and schools especially impactful.
As part of KERAMIDA’s Livable City Solutions team, Emilee leads the Green Schools Services initiative, focusing on developing Climate Action Plans for school districts and higher education institutions. Her extensive experience in community engagement enables her to guide cities and schools through the climate action planning process. Early on, our Livable Cities team recognized the crucial need to involve all stakeholders in climate action planning, and Emilee has been pivotal in exploring the role of schools as catalysts for community-wide climate action.
“Students around the world have consistently demonstrated their passion for addressing the climate crisis. The younger generation has the potential to be powerful agents of change, and integrating sustainability into the classroom can profoundly enhance students’ education and their understanding of global citizenship. As pivotal institutions within their communities, school districts and universities engage diverse stakeholder groups and play vital roles in local decision-making processes.”
Prior to her role at KERAMIDA, Emilee served as a Community Organizer with Green Corps, working with school districts across Colorado to mobilize students in legislative climate advocacy. Throughout her education in Ohio public schools and at Indiana University, she has consistently championed sustainability within academic settings, including spearheading efforts to establish a sustainability general education requirement and launching a United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Book Club for elementary students. Currently, Emilee is leading the development of a comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the Naperville 203 School District.
Emilee O’Neill, Senior Sustainability Analyst at KERAMIDA
At the 8th NYC Green School Conference, Emilee was also invited to present "Creating a Winning Climate Action Plan for Schools," sharing practical steps for schools to take meaningful action on climate issues and inspiring educators and policymakers alike.
Emilee’s recognition as an International Green Mentor underscores her leadership and vision in shaping a greener future for education. We couldn’t be prouder of her achievements and dedication to sustainability!
