Contentious Draft Text Divides Negotiators as Plastics Treaty Talks Near Deadline August 13, 2025 – On the ninth day of negotiations for the UN treaty to end plastic pollution, the Chair released a new text that drew strong criticism from both ends of the spectrum. High-ambition countries seeking a robust
Youth Demand Action on the Plastics Treaty August 12, 2025 – On the eighth day of the final round of negotiations to develop a treaty addressing plastic pollution, Geneva sweltered at 100°F—but there was still no meaningful agreement in sight. This, despite a loud and clear plea from youth leaders to governments: “If
August 11, 2025 – Wide Divides Persist in Plastics Treaty Negotiations Negotiations on the global plastics treaty resumed in Geneva on Monday for a seventh straight day, following closed-door talks on Sunday. Despite intensive discussions, a wide gap remains between countries pushing for a strong agreement and major plastic-producing states,
August 9, 2025 – Countries remain divided as the 5th day of negotiations continue late into the night. While a still significant number of countries continues to call for a meaningful treaty to end plastic pollution, the powerful oil and plastic producing states continue to block any language that would
Guest Blog from Luciano Ruggia from the Swiss Association for Tobacco Control August 8, 2025 – The INC 5.2 negotiations in Geneva: a recipe for a plastic disaster? As the first week of what is meant to be the final round of negotiations in Geneva draws to a close, the
August 7, 2025 – Today we witnessed another day of intense negotiations. On the positive side, more than 120 countries support the concept of introducing a dedicated health article in the plastic treaty, something that would greatly help align the plastic treaty to the tobacco treaty. Also, a number of
Divided Paths at INC-5.2: The Future of the Global Plastics Treaty Hangs in the Balance August 6, 2025 – Day two of the INC-5.2 negotiations has revealed a stark divide among participating countries. On one side are nations committed to creating a strong, binding global instrument to tackle plastic pollution
August 5, 2025 – Today, countries of the world began the last round of negotiations of the UN Treaty to End Plastic Pollution. We hope countries will be able to agree on what steps are needed to tackle the most problematic forms plastic pollution. ASH will be present throughout the negotiations
Media Contact: Megan Manning (202) 390 – 9513 UN Treaty Must Ban Cigarette Filters – Global Health and Environmental Groups Urge Action GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – AUGUST 5, 2025 – Starting today, governments from around the world are meeting in Geneva for the final round of negotiations (INC5.2) for a new
Media Contact: Megan Manning (202) 390 – 9513 Tobacco Industry Expands Lobbying Efforts by 24% across the U.S. in 2025 New Data Released in ASH’s Lobbyist Tracker WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 31, 2025 – Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) released the 4th edition of the U.S. Tobacco Industry Lobbyist and
On July 14, 2025, I had the pleasure of joining local advocates at the hearing of the Joint Committee on Public Health at the Massachusetts Statehouse. On the docket: a state Nicotine-Free Generation law (House version; Senate version). The bill would prohibit the sale of [certain – House version] tobacco
June 25, 2025 – Just before the World Conference on Tobacco Control began in Dublin, Ireland, ASH hosted the 2025 Global Tobacco Endgame Summit. With approximately 150 attendees, including representatives from governments, intergovernmental agencies, academia and advocacy groups, and over 25 speakers, the Global Summit was intended to inform the
The tobacco industry is relentlessly targeting women in Ireland, using advertisements that portray smoking as glamorous and sexy. But the truth is far darker: tobacco kills millions, and these aggressive marketing tactics violate women’s human rights. We Are Taking Action. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and the Tobacco Free
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and 38 signatory organizations wish the 59th session of the Human Rights Council every success and sincerely hope that the council will continue to promote the “right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health” as well
This Saturday, May 31, is World No Tobacco Day. Each year, the World Health Organization sets a theme that highlights a crucial element of the fight to end the tobacco epidemic. This year, ASH joins the WHO in “Unmasking the Appeal.” Where do we even start? There is just so
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org (202) 659-4310 The Maldives Passes National Phase Out of Tobacco Products WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 23, 2025 – On May 21, Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu made history by strengthening protections for his 525,994 citizens from the aggressive and deadly tobacco industry. President Muizzu ratified
Media Contact: Megan Manning manningm@ash.org (202) 659-4310 Santa Cruz County’s Cigarette Filter Ban Lights a Global Fire SACRAMENTO, CA – MAY 20, 2025 – In honor of World No Tobacco Day (May 31), Action on Smoking and Health amplifies the global leadership of Santa Cruz County, California which became the
The tobacco industry is relentlessly targeting children in Indonesia, using widespread advertising, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products through all types of media. Involvement of children in tobacco farming also places children in serious health and safety risk. But the truth is far darker: tobacco kills millions, and these tactics
The plastic in cigarette butts is the catalyst for getting rid of all cigarette filters. Dutch NGO Fair Resource Foundation launched a global campaign on May 13, 2025 to ban plastic cigarette filters. ASH is one of the many organizations that signed on in support and collaborated with the Fair
As we move towards a tobacco and nicotine free society it is critical that we assist those who work in the tobacco industry find alternative livelihoods. Article 17 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) emphasizes the importance of promoting economically viable alternatives to tobacco production, but unfortunately
DC Non-Profit Files Lawsuit Against E-Cigarette Company QR Joy WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 29, 2025 – Today, Breathe DC filed a lawsuit against QR Joy, Inc. and QR Joy Fume, LLC in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. The Complaint is on behalf of the general public of the
Recently, momentum for a human rights-based approach to tobacco control has been growing, as the human rights field increasingly understands the extreme harm caused by tobacco companies. This is made particularly evident by an important victory in a Concluding Observation from a human rights treaty body– a win that is directly related to advocacy efforts from ASH and our partners in the tobacco control
April 22 is Earth Day, the day we recognize that Earth is our only home. Like a house, if we don’t take care of it, clean up messes and fix things when they’re broken, it will become uninhabitable. Unlike a house, we can’t simply collect the insurance and go get
Guest Author: Amos Hausner, Attorney at Law, representing the 7 applicants in application 1416/21 who seek this administrative redress, among them the Clean Air Association and 6 individuals who suffer the harsh consequences of Environmental Tobacco Smoke at home. In a shareholders’ meeting of a major US tobacco company, the
International Day of Zero Waste reminds us that while we should be aware of what we consume, we should be particularly cognizant of what we waste, how we can minimize it, and how to properly dispose of it. The Earth is almost entirely a closed-system, meaning that what we “throw
