Source: Lara Adejoro

Smoke

About 1.3 million people die annually from second-hand smoke, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report, released at the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin.

Despite progress in tobacco control policies worldwide, the WHO warns that rising tobacco industry interference and weak enforcement are threatening global health gains.

“Twenty years since the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, we have many successes to celebrate. But the tobacco industry continues to evolve—and so must we,” said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Second-Hand Smoke and Tobacco Use Still a Deadly Threat

The report reveals that over 7 million people die each year due to tobacco use, with second-hand smoke accounting for 1.3 million deaths globally. While 79 countries now enforce comprehensive smoke-free laws, more aggressive actions are needed.

Key challenges include:

• 40 countries still have no MPOWER tobacco control measures implemented at best-practice level.
• 30+ countries still allow cigarette sales without mandatory health warnings.
• 110 countries have not run anti-tobacco campaigns since 2022.
• Over 60 countries lack any regulation for e-cigarettes (ENDS).

What is WHO’s MPOWER Strategy?

The MPOWER initiative is WHO’s six-pronged strategy to curb tobacco use. It includes:

1. Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies.
2. Protecting people through smoke-free air legislation.
3. Offering help to quit tobacco use.
4. Warning about tobacco dangers with pack labels and mass media.
5. Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.
6. Raising taxes on tobacco products.

Since its introduction in 2007:

• 155 countries have adopted at least one MPOWER measure.
• 6.1 billion people (75% of global population) are protected by at least one MPOWER policy.
• Only four countries — Brazil, Mauritius, Türkiye, and the Netherlands — have implemented the entire MPOWER package.
• Seven others, including Ethiopia, Ireland, and New Zealand, are one measure away from full implementation.

Tobacco Control Wins and Ongoing Gaps

According to the WHO report:

• 110 countries now mandate graphic health warnings (up from 9 in 2007), reaching 62% of the global population.
• 25 countries have adopted plain packaging.
• Cigarette taxation remains weak: 134 countries have failed to make cigarettes less affordable.
• Only 33% of the world’s population has access to quit services covered by national health systems.
• Best-practice bans on tobacco advertising exist in just 68 countries.

Michael Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Non-communicable Diseases and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, reiterated support:

“There has been a sea change since 2007, but there is still a long way to go. Bloomberg Philanthropies remains fully committed to WHO’s urgent work.”

ENDS and the Push for Broader Regulation

A growing number of countries are tightening rules on Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes:

• 133 countries now regulate or ban ENDS (up from 122 in 2022).
• However, more than 60 countries still have no ENDS regulations.

WHO’s Urgent Call to Action

Dr. Ruediger Krech, WHO’s Director of Health Promotion, stressed that governments must close the remaining gaps:

“Governments must act boldly to close remaining gaps, strengthen enforcement, and invest in the proven tools that save lives. No one should be left behind in the fight against tobacco.”