5th Global Oral Health & Climate Action Conference

The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine will host the 5th Global Oral Health and Climate Action Conference (5th GOHCA) during official COP31 UN Climate Conference Antalya, Turkey, from November 9th -20th, 2026. The 5th GOHCA conference will run over 10 days with over 30+ sessions planned with over 150 international experts, policymakers, researchers and industry leaders from around the world. It builds on the 4th GOHCA program (view COP30 session recordings) with a focus on sustainable dentistry, human and health security, and oral and planetary health.

The 5th GOHCA launch event will be hosted in Ankara, Turkey on Monday, November 9th will bring together government representatives, international organizations, academic leaders, and industry stakeholders, including Governments, World Health Organization, FDI World Dental Federation, International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research, and National and international policy leaders.

The launch event aims to elevate and position the sustainable dentistry, human and health security, and oral and planetary health in the global climate and sustainability agenda. Key objectives will be to:

  • Strengthen policy engagement and international collaboration
  • Enhance visibility of Türkiye as a leader in sustainable dental innovation
  • Create a high-impact bridge between science, policy, and industry

The event provides a platform to reinforce the relevance of  the 5th Global Oral Health and Climate Action Conference and its program to governments, industry and business, researchers, educators, practitioners, students, and oral and dental stakeholders.

The 5th GOHCA core scientific program will start on Tuesday, November 10th live from the main COP31 Climate Conference venue in Antalya, Turkey.

The program will include:

  • Interdisciplinary scientific sessions
  • Policy roundtables
  • Industry-academic collaboration panels
  • Innovation showcases and digital health solutions
  • Workshops on sustainability and climate-resilient healthcare

Conference Leadership & Organization

The University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine is leading the Global Oral Health and Climate Action Conference series, which is coordinated by Dr. Julian Fisher, Director, Oral and Planetary Health Policies Center for Integrative Global Oral Health.

Co-Organizer and Country Liaison: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Mutlu Özcan, Director of Center for Dental Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland

Local Organizing Committee:

  • Kaan Orhan, Vice Rector & Dean, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara University, Türkiye
  • Nermin Tarhan Yamalik, University of Hacettepe, Faculty of Dentistry Ankara, Türkiye
  • Deniz Özkuyucu, İstanbul Kent University, Türkiye
  • Fatih Güler, President of Turkish Dental Association, Türkiye