A STUDENT who spent her free time organising a climate change conference has been given an award for her environmental work.

Sarah Mercer, who studies geography and archaeology at Durham University, organised a conference in 2017 focusing on changes in the Arctic, which proved so successful that a second one took place this year.

The 22-year-old was presented with a Caring for your Environment award by Maggie Bosanquet from Durham County Council and Paul Riddlesden from Durham University, who both sit on the County Durham Environment Partnership board.

She said: “It was wholly unexpected and utterly delightful to receive this award and I am so grateful to Maggie and Paul, and the work that they are doing in this area.

“We set up the conference so that like-minded people could come together and think solutions, rather than problems and we are delighted so many people have been involved.”

Maggie Bosanquet, sustainability and climate change team leader at the council, said: “Sarah has put so much time and effort into this conference at the same time as studying for her degree and she deserves to be recognised for her hard work.

“Events like this are vital for facilitating discussion around climate change and what we as individuals and organisations can do to really make a positive difference.”