The “Izmir Meeting” was held within the scope of the World Health Organization (WHO) European Healthy Cities Network 2025 Annual Business Meeting and Technical Conference. Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Cemil Tugay, Mayor of the Turkish Healthy Cities Association and Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, emphasized that the climate crisis not only disrupts the quality of life but can also lead to serious health problems, and stated that everyone should take responsibility in this regard.
Theme and Objectives of the Conference
The Izmir Meeting of the conference, which was held in Bursa on June 17-19 with the theme of “Resilient Healthy Cities: Creating Sustainable Urban Futures for All”, was held at the İzQ Innovation Center. The conference brought together international and national political representatives and technical focal points of the European Healthy Cities Network. The meeting also discussed the progress made in the network’s transition from phase 7 to phase 8 and drew a roadmap for future priorities. The meeting was coordinated by the WHO European Healthy Cities Network Secretariat with the facilitation of the Turkish Healthy Cities Association.
Call for Responsibility Against the Climate Crisis
President Dr. Cemil Tugay, who made the opening speech, drew attention to the direct and indirect effects of the climate crisis and said, “The climate crisis does not only disrupt the quality of life, it can also cause serious health problems. Therefore, we have to look at the problems carefully, take the responsibilities that fall on us and fulfill them, not only because the world is deteriorating, but also because it will become impossible to sustain a healthy life in the future.”
President Tugay stated that the work of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network is very valuable for the world and said, “The Healthy Cities Network works on the issue of more and more people living in cities, cities increasingly having bigger problems and the difficulty in managing them. We aim to carry out sustainable, prosperous, fair work that prepares cities for future crises, not only for today’s cities but also for the cities of the future.”
The Role of Izmir and Its Environmental Beauties
President Tugay, who stated that they were proud of Izmir being a Mediterranean city with lots of blue and green, emphasized the city's cultural values and natural beauties. Referring to the Izmir Bird Paradise in his speech, Tugay explained that this place hosts one of the most special flamingo communities in Turkey and the world and is an area where 80 thousand flamingos live and reproduce. However, he stated that the climate crisis and environmental problems threaten these beauties.
Global Crisis and a Stable Situation
President Tugay drew attention to the global situation by saying, “Unfortunately, the world is experiencing a serious crisis and is about to lose the beauty of its ecosystem because we, as humans, do not know our limits and some individuals, institutions and even states cannot control their ambitions.” Tugay stated that drought, drought and forest fires threaten the Mediterranean Region and emphasized that a more determined stance should be taken against those who do wrong.
Deputy Secretary General of the Turkish Healthy Cities Association, Izmir Office Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dalya Hazar also stated that many topics related to health, resilience, child health and quality of life will be discussed and workshops will be organized throughout the conference.
Thanks and Praise from WHO to Izmir
Kira Fortune, WHO Regional Advisor for Healthy Cities, Health Promotion and Well-Being, thanked President Tugay for opening the doors of a beautiful city like Izmir and for his hospitality. Fortune appreciated President Tugay’s efforts for the planet and especially his close follow-up of the agenda at the COP 29 meeting and his implementation in Izmir. “You did not just talk, you also took action. You followed the health and well-being agenda,” she said, praising Tugay’s leadership.
The conference will also feature presentations, field trips and workshops. The theme of “Resilient Healthy Cities” draws attention to the importance of building cities and living spaces that are resilient to multiple crises such as climate crisis, economic crisis, pandemic and war. Climate change and the diseases that arise from it, as well as water and food crises, were among the topics highlighted throughout the conference.
