Global Setbacks: Tobacco Control Efforts Stalled Amid Crises
The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and wars have disrupted global efforts to curb tobacco use, derailing plans to reduce smokers by 30% by 2025. This delay could result in 95 million more smokers and increased tobacco-related deaths. Governments are urged to reinforce tobacco control policies.
The COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical conflicts have collectively derailed global tobacco control efforts, hindering plans to help 95 million individuals cease smoking, according to a report endorsed by 57 advocacy groups.
Originally, governments aimed to reduce smoking rates among those over 15 by 30% from 2010 to 2025 as part of a global sustainable development action plan established in 2015. However, due to shifting priorities, the timeline has been extended by five years to 2024, diverting resources away from a World Health Organization treaty on tobacco control endorsed by 168 nations.
The report, backed by Action on Smoking and Health Canada, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Cancer Research UK, and others, cautions that these delays could trigger millions of additional tobacco-related deaths. The United Nations has recognized that disruptions related to pandemics, funding shortfalls, and geopolitical issues have thwarted progress on most sustainable development goals.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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