Strengthening Tobacco Control in the Americas ​​through​​​​ the 2025-2030 Strategy and Action Plan

1. Socialize the content of the Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025–2030, approved by PAHO Member States in October 2024. 

2. Exchange experiences on how global and regional mandates can drive the adoption of measures based on scientific evidence, both in countries that are Parties to the WHO FCTC and those that are not. 

3. Share key mandates and evidence-based provisions to address conventional tobacco products as well as emerging nicotine and tobacco products. 

4. Share civil society actions that complement government efforts to counter tobacco industry interference, highlighting how the Strategy and Plan of Action can serve as a tool to guide and strengthen these efforts. 

Tobacco use continues to be one of the greatest threats to global public health. In addition to generating a heavy social, economic, and environmental burden for countries, tobacco use exacerbates household poverty and increases inequalities. Tobacco is harmful in all its forms, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Despite progress in recent years, tobacco use remains a major driver of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and premature deaths in the Region of the Americas. Furthermore, some challenges have become more prominent recently, such as the aggressive promotion of electronic cigarettes and other emerging nicotine and tobacco products by the tobacco industry and its allies, particularly targeting youth. 

The Strategy and Plan of Action to Strengthen Tobacco Control in the Region of the Americas 2025–2030, approved by PAHO Member States in October 2024, provides a roadmap to accelerate the implementation of the WHO FCTC and achieve regional and global targets for the reduction of tobacco use and NCD mortality. The new Strategy reaffirms political will and commitment to advance the tobacco control agenda, prioritizing the most cost-effective measures, incorporating lessons learned from unmet targets of previous mandates, and addressing emerging issues.  

This event, co-organized by PAHO, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Global Alliance for Tobacco Control, and Corporate Accountability, will bring together Member States representatives, civil society organizations, academia, and intergovernmental bodies to discuss how to advance the implementation of the new Strategy and Plan of Action. The objectives are to socialize its content, exchange experiences on how mandates can drive evidence-based measures, share provisions to address both conventional and emerging products, and highlight the complementary role of civil society in countering industry interference. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect not only on how different stakeholders approach tobacco control but also on their critical and essential role in advancing this regional agenda.