More than 100 mayors, deputy mayors and elected representatives from 60 cities in 22 European countries have signed the Cork Call to Action on Climate and Health. They pledged to take local action on nature, food, active travel, housing and preparedness for extreme weather.
Leaders negotiated and agreed the commitments over 2 days during the WHO Summit of Mayors on Climate and Health in Cork, Ireland, hosted by Cork City Council and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.
Europe is the fastest-warming region in the world, heating up at around twice the global average. Heat has killed more than 200 000 people across the European Union and its associated countries since 2022, and most of those deaths were preventable.
The Call to Action puts cities on the front line of the climate crisis and also on the front line of the solutions. Signatories committed to 5 thematic priorities:
- nature-positive cities: protecting and restoring biodiversity and green and blue spaces and using nature-based solutions;
- healthier, sustainable food systems: affordable, nutritious food, stronger local food economies and less food waste;
- active cities: investment in walking, cycling and public transport;
- healthy homes: better housing quality, energy efficiency and affordable, healthy living conditions; and
- resilience and preparedness: protecting communities from extreme weather, flooding and heat.
They also pledged to put health, equity and climate justice at the centre of local decision-making, so that every community shares in the benefits of climate action.
The opening ceremony of the WHO Summit of Mayors on Climate and Health in Cork.
From right to left: Ms Valerie O’Sullivan, Chief Executive, Cork City Council; H.E. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Chair of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health; Dr Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director, Division of Health Systems, WHO/Europe; Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, Prime Minister of Ireland; Cllr Damian Boylan, Lord Mayor of Cork; Kira Fortune, WHO/Europe; and Tony Fitzgerald, Cork City Councillor. Credit: WHO / Darragh Kane.
Irish Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, opened the summit and set out Ireland’s support for local government action on climate and health. Katrín Jakobsdóttir, former Prime Minister of Iceland and Chair of the Pan-European Commission on Climate and Health, gave the keynote address and led the high-level political discussions. With Professor Sir Andy Haines, the Commission’ chief scientific advisor, she set out how cities can put the Commission’s recommendations into practice.
“This declaration is a clear show of political leadership from mayors and city leaders across Europe on one of the greatest challenges facing our communities,” said Damian Boylan, Lord Mayor of Cork. “The discussions, workshops and site visits here over the past 2 days confirmed that climate change isn’t a distant or theoretical issue. It’s already affecting the health of our citizens, and cities have a central role in delivering practical solutions. I hope the Cork Call to Action becomes a catalyst for further collaboration and ambition.”
“Cities are where people feel the impacts of climate change most directly, and where we’re seeing some of the most effective solutions,” said Dr Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat, Director of Health Systems at WHO/Europe. “The commitment made in Cork today by more than 100 political leaders shows a growing recognition that investing in healthy homes, sustainable food, active mobility, nature and resilience is investing in the health and prosperity of current and future generations.”