WHO invites Cork city to host climate talks in autumn of next year
Rebecca Loughry, Director of Services, Community, Culture & Placemaking, Cork City Council; Jennifer Murnane O'Connor TD, Minister of State at the Department of Health; Lord Mayor Cllr Dan Boyle; Denise Cahill, Healthy Cities Co-ordinator at Healthy Cities Cork; Monica O'Mullane, UCC School of Public Health and Cllr Tony Fitzgerald, political representative for Cork Healthy Cities. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
The World Health Organisation Regional European Office has issued a formal invitation to Cork City Council for Cork to host a Summit of Mayors in the Autumn of 2026.
The event will see mayors, elected political leaders and public health professionals from across the WHO European Region gather, to strengthen political leadership and cross-sector collaboration on climate action and health.
The Summit aligns with the broader work of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health, an independent advisory body convened by WHO Europe and chaired by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland.
The Commission aims to raise political awareness and circulate stronger, integrated action on the health impacts of climate change.
Lord Mayor of Cork Dan Boyle said:
"As a longstanding and active member of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and an EU Mission City, Cork City has demonstrated leadership in health and climate action that has helped to shape regional priorities and elevate the voice of Cork within the broader European context."
The Summit would include political dialogues, technical exchange and site visits which will showcase the work of Cork in regard to climate action, participatory governance and community resilience.
Also, the summit will serve to strengthen collaboration between local and national actors in delivering on shared objectives, under both Phase VIII of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network and Ireland’s EU Presidency.
Minister for State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, who also attended the National Healthy Cities & Counties meeting held in Cork last Friday 6 June, added: "Cork is ideally placed to host this Summit of Mayors as it has demonstrated leadership in both public health and climate action at city level".
"The Mayors Summit will provide an important platform for local, national and European leaders to engage with and respond to these regional policy priorities."
App?
