Porto, Portugal (GNP): The Global Youth Impact Summit 2026 (GYIS 2026) wrapped up in Porto-Gaia on September 6 with the signing of the Porto Youth Declaration, bringing together more than 50 youth delegates representing over 45 nationalities in a shared commitment to sustainable development, international cooperation, and inclusive participation.
Organized by the Council for Global Affairs & Development (CGAD), the four-day summit ran from September 3-6 at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Porto-Gaia, drawing emerging youth leaders, diplomats, civil society representatives, entrepreneurs, and innovators from across Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East to exchange ideas and advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The signing of the Porto Youth Declaration served as the summit’s central achievement, with more than 50 delegates from over 45 countries putting their names to a shared commitment to advancing the SDGs — with particular focus on climate action, education, economic opportunity, gender equality, inclusion, and peace-building.
The declaration reflects the diversity of its signatories while emphasizing shared priorities and the importance of meaningful youth involvement in addressing global challenges. It positions young people not merely as beneficiaries of sustainable development, but as active contributors — innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, community leaders, and partners in driving change.
The summit featured participation from several prominent figures, including Bart Lammens, Ambassador of Belgium to Portugal; Dr. Edona Maloku Bërdyna, Ambassador of Kosovo; Paul Raymond P. Cortes, Ambassador of the Philippines to Portugal; and Alyson Reneau, Harvard Emerging Leader and President of GYIS 2026. Additional contributors included international journalist and educator Stephanie Lisa Aceglav, Career Connect CEO Vivian Jonathan, Hong Kong-based social media leader Pula Mok, and Pedro Pessanha, Honorary Consul General of Belgium in Porto.
Delegates attended from more than 45 nations spanning five continents, including over 10 African countries, eight from the Americas, eight from the Asia-Pacific region, 10 European nations, and countries from the Middle East and Gulf region.
Key outcomes of the summit included the signing of the Porto Youth Declaration by more than 50 youth delegates committed to advancing the SDGs with emphasis on climate action, education equity, decent work, gender equality, and peace; the strengthening of a global youth network through new cross-border connections among emerging leaders; the endorsement of an SDG Leadership Framework prioritizing nine of the 17 SDGs for youth-led action and calling for greater youth involvement in policymaking; and an Innovation Lab that identified entrepreneurs, explored partnerships with social enterprises, and generated technology-driven proposals addressing development challenges.
Organizers announced that GYIS 2027 will be held in Paris, continuing the summit’s mission of connecting young leaders across borders and advancing youth-driven action for sustainable development.
GYIS 2026 built on momentum generated by the earlier Youth Forum on Global Goals (YFGG) in Istanbul, carrying forward its focus on youth participation, the SDGs, international cooperation, and practical action, while establishing a new platform for young leaders to connect across regions.
Youth participation remained central throughout the programme, with delegates given opportunities to engage in discussions, present their own ideas, connect with international speakers, and contribute directly to drafting the Porto Youth Declaration. Sessions covered topics including sustainable cities, climate action, digital innovation, health, education, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, and peace-building.
With the declaration signed, GYIS 2026 concluded its four-day programme with a focus on carrying forward the conversations, partnerships, and commitments developed in Porto into future youth-led initiatives. Organizers said the next phase would involve building on the relationships formed during the summit and continuing to create spaces where young people can engage in international dialogue and contribute to sustainable development.
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Alyson Reneau, President of GYIS 2026, said the summit brought together diverse voices from around the world united by a shared commitment to positive change, describing the young leaders in attendance as a source of hope for the future. CGAD described the Porto Youth Declaration as more than just a document, calling it a movement representing fifty young voices from over 45 nations speaking as one for a better, fairer, and more sustainable world.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
