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WHO Summit of Mayors

The WHO Summit of Mayors is scheduled to take place in Cork City on 5 and 6 October 2026

The Cork Summit on Climate & Health will bring together mayors, policymakers, experts and communities from across Europe to ascertain a values approach to engage in dialogue, discussion, site visits and workshops to address the growing health impacts of climate change.  As an official event of Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it will place community at the heart of the proceedings to translate high-level scientific evidence and recommendations into practical locally relevant action.   

The Summit will convene mayors, political leaders, public health experts and civil society actors from across Europe to strengthen collaboration on climate and health. The Summit builds on the work of the WHO Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health, led by former Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and supported by Chief Scientific Adviser Andrew Haines. 

The Summit takes place at a critical moment, as climate change is increasingly affecting the health and well-being of communities. Cork provides a strategic setting for this Summit, engaging communities with local leadership, national and European priorities. Cork’s longstanding commitment to community engagement as a member of the Healthy Cities Network and Mission City status further strengthens its relevance as host.  The event is an official part of Ireland’s hosting of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, positioning it as a key moment to connect city-level action with broader European policy direction. 

Rising temperatures, more frequent extreme weather events and worsening air quality are already influencing how people live, work and age, with the greatest impacts felt by vulnerable populations.  Urban areas are at the centre of these challenges. With most Europeans living in cities, local governments are on the front line, facing environmental pressures alongside rising rates of noncommunicable diseases and increasing strain on health systems.  

Despite these challenges, cities across Europe are already leading innovative responses, advancing solutions that integrate health, climate action, equity and sustainability. These include expanding green infrastructure, promoting active travel, improving air quality and strengthening resilience to climate-related health risks.  The event will focus on translating high-level policy into practical city-level action at community level. Participants will be invited to collaborate to identify priority areas and contribute to the development of a Cork Compact on Climate & Health; helping to shape future policy and drive coordinated local action across Europe.