The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional European Office had issued a formal invitation to Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Dan Boyle and Cork City Council’s CEO Valerie O’Sullivan for the city to host the mayoral summit in Autumn 2026, which was recently approved at a Cork City Council meeting.

 “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,” noted Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Dan Boyle at the meeting on 10 June.

“This further endorses our vision for the city to approach health and climate action in a holistic way to encourage innovation, new ways of working, new partnerships and new social and economic opportunities,” he concluded.

The Summit of Mayors 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 Her Excellency Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland. The Commission’s work, culminating in its final recommendations in 2026, aims to raise political awareness and catalyse stronger, integrated action on the health impacts of climate change.

The proposed two-day event will include political dialogues, technical exchange and site visits to showcase Cork’s work in climate action, participatory governance, and community resilience. It will also 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.

“The Mayors Summit will provide an important platform for local, national and European leaders to engage with and respond to these regional policy priorities,” noted Minister for State Jennifer Murnane O’Connor. “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”.