In the 2024/2025 academic year, 35 schools from the municipality participated in the program, with 34 receiving the Green Flag. For 2025/2026, the number of registered establishments rose to 37, and for the current academic year, 41 educational establishments have already enrolled, four more than the previous year and six more than two years ago.
This growth reflects an increasing adherence by Coimbra's educational communities to a program focused on areas such as climate action, biodiversity, sustainable resource use, circular economy, and environmental citizenship.
The evolution of participation was accompanied by several distinctions at the Eco-Schools Award 2026. The 1st Jardim-Escola João de Deus de Coimbra won the 1st prize in the Eco-Schools Anthem, in the 1st tier, a challenge launched as part of the 30 years of the Eco-Schools Program implementation in Portugal. Escola Básica de Montes Claros received an Honorable Mention in the same challenge.
Escola Básica de Montes Claros was also distinguished within the Eco-Code framework, while the Centro Social e Paroquial de Almalaguês won the 2nd prize in the activity “Build your Battery Collector”, integrated into Geração Depositrão. These distinctions recognize the work developed by students, teachers, and other members of the educational communities in promoting more sustainable practices.
The Coimbra Municipal Council supports the participation of schools in the municipality in the Eco-Schools Program, notably through the payment of registrations and support for the transport of delegations to the national event of the Eco-Schools Award – Green Flags Day. The increase in the number of participating establishments, alongside the distinctions achieved, reinforces the significance the Eco-Schools Program has been gaining in the municipality and the involvement of educational communities in promoting sustainability.
