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Urban Health on the Global Agenda: Highlights from IUHS 2025

Environment & Climate
Health
Sustainable Development Goals

From 9 to 11 April 2025, the International Urban Health Summit (IUHS) brought together a diverse community of more than 350 researchers, health professionals, urban planners and policy experts from more than 30 countries at the Herrenhausen Palace in Hannover, Germany. Organised by the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) in collaboration with the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Volkswagen Foundation and the International Society for Urban Health, the Summit served as a unique platform for exchanging knowledge and catalysing collaboration.

The programme featured six plenary sessions spanning key themes such as climate change and health, AI-driven solutions for urban wellbeing and community engagement in urban governance. With a strong interdisciplinary focus and the spirit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the event highlighted not only scientific insight but also policy relevance and real-world applications.

The Summit’s vibrant mix of expert panels, interactive sessions and informal networking reflected the urgency and complexity of addressing urban health at a global level. The event underscored how academies of science, medicine, and engineering can play a critical role in shaping evidence-based urban policy—placing health, equity and sustainability at the centre of future cities.

Group photo of the participants to the International Urban Health Summit in Hanover, Germany, from 9 to 11 April 2025 (Photo credits: Sofia Nitti/IAP)
Group photo of the participants to the International Urban Health Summit in Hanover, Germany, from 9 to 11 April 2025 (Photo credits: Sofia Nitti/ (The InterAcademy Partnership, IAP)

📸 Explore our photo galleries below!
(Photo credits: Sofia Nitti/ The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP)

Read and download the full programme here.
Read the full press release here.

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IUHS 9 April 2025 - Setting the scene
Volker Ter Meulen, former IAP co-President, now IAP Special Advisor Volker Ter Meulen, former IAP co-President, now IAP Special Advisor
Opening session at IUHS 2025 Opening session at IUHS 2025
Peggy Hamburg, IAP co-President Peggy Hamburg, IAP co-President
Plenary session at IUHS 2025 Plenary session at IUHS 2025
Jo Ivey Boufford, Board Chair, International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), IAP Working Group on Urban Health Jo Ivey Boufford, Board Chair, International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), IAP Working Group on Urban Health
Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah (left), member of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah (left), member of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health
Ahmed Hassoon, member of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health Ahmed Hassoon, member of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health
Hashim Hounkpatin, Observer at the IAP Working Group on Urban Health Hashim Hounkpatin, Observer at the IAP Working Group on Urban Health
Jo Ivey Boufford, Board Chair, International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), IAP Working Group on Urban Health Jo Ivey Boufford, Board Chair, International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), IAP Working Group on Urban Health
Ahmed Hassoon, member of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health, Aleksandar Stevanović, YPL alumnus 2024 Ahmed Hassoon, member of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health, Aleksandar Stevanović, YPL alumnus 2024
Volker Ter Meulen and IAP Coordinator Peter McGrath Volker Ter Meulen and IAP Coordinator Peter McGrath
Jo Ivey Boufford and Peggy Hamburg Jo Ivey Boufford and Peggy Hamburg
Mari Vaattovaara and Franz Gatzweiler, members of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health Mari Vaattovaara and Franz Gatzweiler, members of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health
IAP Coordinator Peter McGrath IAP Coordinator Peter McGrath
IUHS 2025, Opening session IUHS 2025, Opening session
Plenary 1 - Urban Health and Governance
Rainer Fehr, Medical Faculty University of Bielefeld, Germany Rainer Fehr, Medical Faculty University of Bielefeld, Germany
Samuel Gachohi Njuguna, Carlos Moreno, Heike Kockler Samuel Gachohi Njuguna, Carlos Moreno, Heike Kockler
Wu Zhiqiang, Samuel Gachohi Njuguna Wu Zhiqiang, Samuel Gachohi Njuguna
Rainer Fehr, Marcus Grant Rainer Fehr, Marcus Grant
Rainer Fehr, Wu Zhiqiang Rainer Fehr, Wu Zhiqiang
Plenary 2 - Built Environment and Urban Health
Ellen Haußdörfer, State Secretary for Health and Care, City of Berlin, Germany Ellen Haußdörfer, State Secretary for Health and Care, City of Berlin, Germany
Plenary Session on Built Environment and Urban Health Plenary Session on Built Environment and Urban Health
Gil Peñalosa, Mazda Adli, Jaime C. Montoya, Anne Bach Nielsen Gil Peñalosa, Mazda Adli, Jaime C. Montoya, Anne Bach Nielsen
Plenary Session on Built Environment and Urban Health Plenary Session on Built Environment and Urban Health
Anne Bach Nielsen, Locana Gunaratna, Giselle Sebag Anne Bach Nielsen, Locana Gunaratna, Giselle Sebag
Locana Gunaratna, Giselle Sebag, Nathalie Laure Roebbel Locana Gunaratna, Giselle Sebag, Nathalie Laure Roebbel
Plenary Session on Built Environment and Urban Health Plenary Session on Built Environment and Urban Health
Breakout 2B - Informal Settlements
Anthony Clayton, Modest Mulenga, Blessing Mberu, Kefa Otiso Anthony Clayton, Modest Mulenga, Blessing Mberu, Kefa Otiso
Jo Ivey Boufford, Franz Gatzweiler, Peter McGrath Jo Ivey Boufford, Franz Gatzweiler, Peter McGrath
Plenary 3 - Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health
Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health
Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert
Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health
Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert
Georg Steifert, Gabriel David, Rana Abdelkader Georg Steifert, Gabriel David, Rana Abdelkader
Georg Steifert, Gabriel David Georg Steifert, Gabriel David
Gabriel David, Rana Abdelkader Gabriel David, Rana Abdelkader
Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health
Panelists at the Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health Panelists at the Plenary session on Natural Environment, Climate Change and Urban Health
Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert
Rana Abdelkader Rana Abdelkader
Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques Rania Kosti, IAP Executive Director, Bruno Marques
Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert Bruno Marques, Georg Steifert
Breakout 3C - Climate Change and Urban Health
Breakout 3C on Climate Change and Urban Health Breakout 3C on Climate Change and Urban Health
Anne Bach Nielsen, Mari Vaattovaara, Hashim Hounkpatin Anne Bach Nielsen, Mari Vaattovaara, Hashim Hounkpatin
Hashim Hounkpatin, Peter McGrath, IAP Coordinator, Robin Fears Hashim Hounkpatin, Peter McGrath, IAP Coordinator, Robin Fears
Mari Vaattovaara, Hashim Hounkpatin, Peter McGrath, IAP Coordinator Mari Vaattovaara, Hashim Hounkpatin, Peter McGrath, IAP Coordinator
Hashim Hounkpatin, Peter McGrath, IAP Coordinator Hashim Hounkpatin, Peter McGrath, IAP Coordinator
Breakout 3C on Climate Change and Urban Health Breakout 3C on Climate Change and Urban Health
Anne Bach Nielsen, Mari Vaattovaara Anne Bach Nielsen, Mari Vaattovaara
Plenary 4 - Public Engagement and Urban Decision Making
Breakout 4B - Community Engagement Through Arts
IAP Working Group on Urban Health - Closed shop

The Role of Academies of Science, Medicine and Engineering in Advancing Urban Health Worldwide

During this session, representatives of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP) and its Urban Health Working Group will seek inputs from participants (including members of the IAP Working Group, plus observers), to help set priorities for a global project on urban health that IAP will aim to implement as a follow-on to this summit.

Plenary 5 - AI and Urban Health
Plenary 6 - Education and Urban Health
Camille Mba, Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, Atiya Mosam Camille Mba, Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, Atiya Mosam
Atiya Mosam, Keiko Nakamura, Tania Singer Atiya Mosam, Keiko Nakamura, Tania Singer
Plenary Session on Education and Urban Health Plenary Session on Education and Urban Health
Final Plenary: Wrap up, next steps and closing remarks
Jeffrey L. Sturchio (ISUH), Jo Ivey Boufford (Chair ISUH and IAP Working Group on Urban Health) Jeffrey L. Sturchio (ISUH), Jo Ivey Boufford (Chair ISUH and IAP Working Group on Urban Health)
Final Plenary: Wrap up, next steps and closing remarks Final Plenary: Wrap up, next steps and closing remarks
Final Plenary: Wrap up, next steps and closing remarks Final Plenary: Wrap up, next steps and closing remarks
Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Cristoph Markschies, Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Peter McGrath (IAP Coordinator) Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Cristoph Markschies, Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Peter McGrath (IAP Coordinator)
Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye, Cristoph Markschies Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye, Cristoph Markschies
Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, Franz Gatzweiler, members of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, Franz Gatzweiler, members of the IAP Working Group on Urban Health
Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye, Cristoph Markschies Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye, Cristoph Markschies
Cristoph Markschies, Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, Franz Gatzweiler Cristoph Markschies, Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, Franz Gatzweiler
Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye, Cristoph Markschies Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye, Cristoph Markschies
Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye
Final Plenary: Wrap up, next steps and closing remarks Final Plenary: Wrap up, next steps and closing remarks
Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye Rania Kosti (IAP Executive Director), Saroj Jayasinghe, Kefa Otiye
Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Cristoph Markschies Jeffrey L. Sturchio, Cristoph Markschies