by Anne McCusker, UK National Network Co-Ordinator
It was an honour to travel to Bursa and Izmir to represent the UK Healthy Cities Network and Belfast Healthy Cities, and join with over 500 participants, including more than 70 political leaders at the European Healthy Cities Annual Business Conference and Technical Meeting. The meeting theme, ‘Resilient Healthy Cities: Creating Sustainable Urban Futures for All‘, enabled sharing of practical solutions on how cities are confronting climate change, designing inclusive spaces, and addressing the needs of ageing populations.
The Bursa commitment sets out the framework for Phase VIII of the European Healthy Cities Network. It is an opportunity to continue to deliver the SDGs in our cities and places, and reaffirms political leadership across the region. This reinforces the belief that we are stronger together, acknowledging what we can achieve as a network.
Key reflections to inform action:
• Nations talk, cities act: Climate change, health, housing, inequality, ageing – cities might not control all the levers, but they live with the consequences. Many of the conditions that shape the health of our people, requires collaborative working across sectors. The UK Healthy Cities Network members work together to share learning and best practice, knowing that local action drives global progress.
• Political leadership is key: The Mayors attended the meeting ready to commit, advocate and collaborate. A key message of ‘Leave No One Behind’, can be achieved by putting health and wellbeing at the centre of what we do.
• Networks take time and trust: The European Healthy Cities Network is a movement which started in 1988 and continues to deliver technical and political support to cities who lead the way in challenging complex public health issues. The UK Healthy Cities Network has collaborative relationships across borders, institutional knowledge, and the capacity to learn and adapt together.
Now entering Phase VIII (2026-2030), the European Healthy Cities Network is focusing on preparedness, equity, and the life course – including how we design cities and places that are safe, accessible, and supportive for people of all ages. These efforts are critical to translating the Second European Programme of Work 2026-2030 (EPW2) into concrete, community-level action.
The conference explored how strategic public health approaches can support communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises – whether environmental, economic, or social. What stood out was the shared commitment to making change happen, not in isolation, but together. This is a key value of the UK Healthy Cities Network as members work together on Health in All Policies, Commercial Determinants of Health and Place based approaches to health.
A standout session asked speakers to consider: ‘What gives you hope that cities can rise to this moment, not just to adapt, but to lead a new era of climate and well-being leadership?’
During the meeting collaboration was at the heart of every session. This is the approach taken by the UK Healthy Cities Network. These discussions reminded me that while every city is different, the values we share – health, equity, sustainability – unite us.
To join the UK Healthy Cities Network on this call to action with the cities of today and cities of tomorrow delivering on the Bursa commitment and leading the way on delivery of public health issues or to find out more, please get in touch.
