Fresh from snagging a Young Conservationist of the Year award from Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, student Sophia Skarparis has a message for politicians like those in NSW who hold out against banning single-use plastic bags.

Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex presents Sophia Skarparis with her award on Friday night. Credit:AAP

"We are the generation that will be active," Miss Skarparis said. "This youth and this generation are so serious about caring for our common home ... I am not going to stop."

The Year 10 student from Sydney's Monte Sant'Angelo Mercy College secured the Australian Geographic Society award - presented on Friday night - for her bag-the-ban petition that topped 12,000 signatures. That tally was enough to force a debate on Thursday in State Parliament.