The United Nations University – Operating Unit on Policy-driven Electronic Governance (UNU-EGOV) hosted, on Saturday, 14 February, the opening session of the of Eco Parlamento 2026 (11th edition), an initiative promoted by Laboratório da Paisagem and dedicated to environmental sustainability.
The first session brought together 16 students from different levels of basic education, representing several schools in the municipality of Guimarães. As part of the programme’s launch, UNU-EGOV delivered a training session on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using interactive and educational activities designed to support students’ understanding of global challenges and pathways towards sustainable development.
This initial gathering marked the first contact among participating students, fostering collaboration and shared reflection in line with the spirit of Eco Parlamento. At the end of the session, participants received a certificate of participation and a commemorative instant photograph by the United Nations flag, symbolically recognizing their engagement with an initiative aligned with the values and mission of the United Nations.
Eco Parlamento is the flagship activity of the Pegadas project and aims to stimulate debate among children and young people on sustainable development. Throughout the year, participants identify environmental challenges within their local territory and propose sustainable solutions through a series of debate sessions. The best project is selected at the conclusion of the Eco Parlamento initiative.
UNU-EGOV has collaborated with the organizers of Eco Parlamento in recent editions, welcoming students in the inaugural session and providing an opportunity to promote the mission of the United Nations University and to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable development.
