Cork Lord Mayor Invites European Mayors to Major Climate and Health Summit in 2026

The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Fergal Dennehy, has issued an invitation to mayors across Europe to attend a landmark summit on climate and health in Cork City on 5 and 6 October 2026, coinciding with Ireland's presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The announcement came on Wednesday during a keynote address to the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health, where Cllr Dennehy positioned Cork as a leader in both environmental and public health policy, highlighting the city's status as a WHO Healthy City and an EU Mission City committed to achieving climate neutrality and net zero emissions by 2030.

Cllr Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork:

"Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. In this context, I invite Mayors from across Europe to join us in Cork City on October 5 and 6, 2026 for the European Mayors' Summit on Climate and Health. Together, we will amplify city-level priorities at EU level and advance a unified agenda shaped by the recommendations of this Pan-European Commission."

The European Mayors' Summit on Climate and Health represents a significant diplomatic moment for Cork, bringing together city leaders to address the intersection of environmental policy and public health at a European level.

The Pan-European Commission, an independent WHO Europe expert body led by Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the former Prime Minister of Iceland, advises governments on protecting health and building resilience against climate change.

In his address, the Lord Mayor outlined the environmental challenges facing Cork as a coastal city, where flooding, tidal surges, and extreme weather events are placing increasing pressure on residents, infrastructure, and emergency services.

Cllr Dennehy:

"Cork is proud of its dual role as a WHO Healthy City and an EU Mission City. But we are also a city experiencing first-hand the effects of a changing climate. Flooding, tidal surges, and extreme weather events are placing growing strain on our residents, our infrastructure, and our emergency services."

The Lord Mayor described how climate pressures, from poor air quality to more frequent heatwaves, are creating diverse public health impacts. Vulnerable groups including older people, children, those with chronic illness, and households facing economic hardship are most affected.

Cork has responded by placing climate and health at the core of the City Development Plan. The Lord Mayor highlighted several major initiatives underway, including a new Sustainable Healthy Food Policy promoting nutritious, locally sourced food while reducing emissions.

Investment in resilient urban spaces is also progressing, with flood-resistant public areas and expanded active travel routes to promote walking and cycling across the city.

Air quality has been identified as both a political and public health priority, with cleaner transport measures being implemented alongside a new electric bus fleet and safer cycling infrastructure aimed at reducing respiratory illness, particularly among young people.

Cllr Dennehy: "The urgency is clear. We must deliver solutions that reduce emissions, strengthen resilience, and enhance the well-being of our population."

The Lord Mayor stressed the essential role of elected leadership in driving climate action, noting that climate and health now intersect with every portfolio, from housing and migration to social equity, economic development, and public health.

Cllr Dennehy:

"Climate and health now intersect with every portfolio—housing, migration, social equity, economic development, and public health. Political leadership is essential to ensure that climate action is evidence-based, community-led, and fair."

Recognising the scale of the climate challenge, the Lord Mayor emphasised the need for joint action and cooperation among European cities, urging cities across the region to endorse the Commission's forthcoming recommendations and champion integrated climate and health policies.

Cllr Dennehy:

"Our health, and the health of future generations, depends on the climate decisions we make today. Cork stands ready to lead—together with cities across Europe—toward a healthier, more resilient, and more equitable future."