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Gilmore AB, et al. Comment. (Call for a mandatory funding mechanism to address tobacco industry harm) 20th Anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Coming Into Force: time for a step change in ambition. The Lancet ,Volume 405, Issue 10480 p677-681 March 01, 2025

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00336-8/fulltext

Note: Open Access, but free Lancet site registration is required. Thanks to Stan Shatenstein for information about this article.

“Feb 27, 2025, marks the 20th anniversary of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) coming into force… As the treaty enters its 21st year, we reflect on its achievements and identify the need for a step change in ambition if the treaty is to continue to effectively address the tobacco epidemic, alongside the emergent nicotine and multiple product use (poly-use) epidemics…”

“At the 20-year mark, the FCTC is at an unavoidable inflection point. If a generation of young people is to be protected and progress restored, parties to the FCTC must step up their ambition. A panel has detailed specific recommendations to accelerate progress across parties at all stages of implementation, address the changing nature of the tobacco and nicotine epidemics, and better counter industry interference… Ultimately, however, sustainable financing needs to be secured for such recommendations, and the system drivers of the tobacco and nicotine epidemics need to be addressed—externalities, excess profits, and the consequent resource imbalance between industry and those attempting to hold them to account. Both can be achieved by moving towards a polluter pays approach, in which the tobacco industry pays for the harm it causes.”

“At the next COP [Conference of the Parties, in November 2025, a group could be established to propose the best system, drawing on existing work and international financing mechanisms such as the polluter pays systems established for maritime oil spills. Only if such a financing system is mandatory can the industry be prevented from evasion or positioning itself as part of the solution. As preparations for COP 11 begin, parties must harness the leadership and energy necessary to realise the FCTC’s full potential.”

See Also: Secretariat of the WHO FCTC. Highlights from 20 years of tobacco control. Technical Document. Feb 18, 2025
https://fctc.who.int/resources/publications/m/item/highlights-from-20-years-of-tobacco-control

TRC Research Commentary

Important information on the World Conference on Lung Health, Copenhagen, Denmark. Nov. 18-22, 2025

https://mailchi.mp/theunion/unionconf-5000500?e=3cf453be7a

“If you plan to submit Abstracts, Symposia, Satellite Sessions, or Post-Graduate Courses and Workshops for The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2025, please note the information below.

This year, we will not extend the deadline for submissions beyond April 9 (which is the deadline for most categories except satellite sessions). Please submit your work before this date to be considered for presentation at this exciting Conference in Copenhagen from 18-22 November.

The submissions must reflect categories in the track list, so please be familiar with the tracks and sub-tracks.

Comment: This World Conference promises to have many exciting elements and is an opportunity to learn about FCTC changes in tobacco control from FCTC COP 11 in Geneva, also from 17-22 November.

—
Stephen Hamann