A parallel conference, Good COP 2.0, was held in Geneva from November 17 to 21, 2025, concurrently with the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The event brought together independent scientists, smoke-free product advocates, smoking consumers, and industry representatives to discuss Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) science and its implications for global nicotine policy.
The conference aimed to promote data-driven, transparent, and sensible policies, countering the prohibitionist approach often adopted by tobacco control measures. Key speakers, including David Williams, Kurt Yeo, and Rodger Bate, presented evidence on the effectiveness of e-cigarettes in helping people quit smoking and criticized the WHO’s defeatism regarding Smoke-Free Products.
The five-day conference covered various topics, including the need for transparency and scientific integrity in public health policy, the importance of consumer rights, and the consequences of ignoring nicotine alternatives in regions such as the Asia-Pacific. Delegates from countries like New Zealand and Serbia shared their experiences with implementing harm reduction policies, resulting in decreased smoking rates.
The event also addressed the influence of global power relations and wealthy philanthropists on tobacco policy, as well as the unintended consequences of severe prohibition, including rising illegal markets and criminalization of sellers. Experts emphasized the need to center consumer voices and balance safer alternatives with consumer liberty and judicious oversight.
The Good COP 2.0 conference highlighted the contradictions between global policy and lived practices, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). By promoting independent science, regional nuance, and harm reduction pragmatism, the event underscored the importance of evidence-based public health policy and the need for regulation to be sensitive to context, participatory, and transparent.
The implications of these debates are particularly urgent for African countries, where weak health systems and resources make prohibitive tobacco policies likely to do more harm than good if harm reduction alternatives are overlooked. As the global community continues to navigate the complexities of tobacco control, the need for nuanced, evidence-based approaches that prioritize public health and consumer well-being has never been more pressing.