Day One of Good COP 2.0 on the Sidelines of COP11 in Geneva Highlights Intensive Discussions on Tobacco Control Challenges

The first day of the Good COP 2.0 conference, held on the sidelines of the COP11 Conference of the Parties in Geneva and organized by the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, witnessed the participation of a distinguished group of international experts in public health and regulatory policy. The experts delivered in-depth analyses of the trajectory of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) since its inception and discussed prospects for improving and strengthening its effectiveness to keep pace with global health and social developments.

Participants listened to insights from prominent experts who discussed the future direction of the convention and its impact on global public health, highlighting ways to enhance policy effectiveness and reduce societal risks related to tobacco. The discussions also addressed the role of governments and citizens in shaping sustainable solutions, as well as evaluating the performance of international organizations, foremost among them the United Nations and the World Health Organization, on this issue.

The discussions highlighted the global challenges associated with addressing the societal harms of tobacco, emphasizing the significant impact of the tobacco industry on public health and the pressing need for effective public policy interventions. Experts stressed the importance of the role of citizens and states in designing well-studied policies to reduce health and social risks. They also underscored the need to reform and strengthen the capacity of international organizations to ensure their ability to counter the growing influence of tobacco companies and to enhance transparency and accountability.

The experts also emphasized the importance of adopting evidence-based health policies, noting that banning alternatives is not supported by sufficient data. Instead, studies indicate that these alternatives present less health risks compared to traditional cigarettes. They affirmed that tobacco control should focus on harm reduction, not just prohibition. The focus should be on

adopting balanced policies that could accelerate the reduction of smoking rates globally, while providing analytical insights to help the public understand the relationship between health policies, economic impacts, and the interests associated with the tobacco industry.

During a panel discussion titled “The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is Not Working,” Roger Bate, health economist and senior fellow at the International Center for Law & Economics, said, “I believe that the role of citizens and nations in addressing the risks facing society is fundamental. The United Nations and its agencies, such as the World Health Organization, are institutions that, if they did not exist, we would have to invent them. But that does not mean they are free of problems.”

Bate highlighted that there are several challenges facing the Tobacco Control Convention. “My goal today is simple: to explain how the FCTC has drifted from its original promise, and why internal reform attempts have failed.”

He also noted his participation in the “International Health Review,” a project led by former World Health Organization experts and includes senior diplomats and scientists. The project aims to explore ways to reform the global health system, including tobacco and other critical health issues.

The data presented during the session showed that less harmful, innovative alternatives, such as e-cigarettes and smoke-free products, continue to face marginalization, despite the growing scientific evidence confirming their role in reducing smoking-related diseases. Studies show that e-cigarettes almost double the smoking cessation rates compared to traditional nicotine alternatives or unassisted quit attempts. They also show the achievement of higher levels of user satisfaction and continued adherence to quitting.

International experiences, such as New Zealand’s, have provided examples of smoking rates declining more rapidly since 2019 following the implementation of risk-reduction policies and the regulation of e-cigarette products. However, other countries have remained cautious against the introduction of regulations on alternative tobacco in the absence of sufficient data. Serbia, for example, has called for caution when it comes to adopting extreme measures that could impact the economy, stressing that any new policies must be based on reliable scientific data demonstrating their positive impact on public health.

This session comes as part of the events held on the sidelines of COP11, taking place from 17 to 21 November, serving as a pivotal point for reassessing the FCTC’s ability to adapt to health and social changes as well as ensuring the protection of global public health.