TIMES REPORT
PORTO, Portugal: The Global Youth Impact Summit 2026 (GYIS 2026) concluded in Porto-Gaia with the signing of the Porto Youth Declaration, bringing together more than 50 young delegates representing over 45 nationalities in a collective commitment to sustainable development, international cooperation and meaningful youth participation.
Organized by the Council for Global Affairs & Development (CGAD), the four-day summit, held from September 3 to 6, brought together emerging youth leaders, diplomats, civil society representatives, entrepreneurs, educators and innovators from Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.
The Porto Youth Declaration was the main outcome of the summit. Through the declaration, youth delegates expressed their commitment to advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the areas of climate action, education, economic opportunity, gender equality, inclusion and peace-building.
The declaration emphasized that young people should not be viewed only as beneficiaries of development but also as innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, community leaders and active partners in creating solutions to global challenges.
The summit featured participation from prominent diplomats and international leaders, including Ambassador of Belgium to Portugal Bart Lammens, Ambassador of Kosovo Edona Maloku Bërdyna and Ambassador of the Philippines to Portugal Paul Raymond P. Cortes. Other speakers and contributors included Harvard Emerging Leader and GYIS 2026 President Alyson Reneau, international journalist and educator Stephanie Lisa Aceglav, Career Connect CEO Vivian Jonathan, Hong Kong social media leader Pula Mok and Honorary Consul General of Belgium in Porto Pedro Pessanha.
Discussions at the summit covered sustainable cities, climate change, digital innovation, health, education, entrepreneurship, diplomacy and peace-building. An SDG Leadership Framework was also endorsed, identifying nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals as priorities for youth-led action and calling for greater youth participation in policymaking.
The summit’s Innovation Lab further provided a platform for young entrepreneurs to explore social enterprise partnerships and technology-based solutions to development challenges. The gathering also strengthened cross-border connections and partnerships among emerging leaders.
The organizers announced that GYIS 2027 will be held in Paris, France, continuing the initiative’s mission of connecting young leaders and supporting practical youth-led action for sustainable development.
Alyson Reneau said the summit brought together diverse voices united by a shared commitment to positive change, while CGAD described the Porto Youth Declaration as a collective call for a fairer, more inclusive and sustainable world.
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